plural volunteers
: someone who does something without being forced to do it: such as
a
: a person who chooses to join the military
b
: a person who does work without getting paid to do it
Volunteers are needed to help with the bake sale.
The school was built by volunteers.
volunteers; volunteered; volunteering
1
a
: to offer to do something without being forced to or without getting paid to do it
I volunteered to do the job. = I volunteered for the job.
b
: to choose to join the military
Our son volunteered for military service.
2
: to give (something) without being forced to or without getting paid for it
I volunteered my services.
He would not volunteer any information about her whereabouts.
3
: to say that someone will do something without asking if he or she wants to do it
I just found out that Mom volunteered me to babysit. [=that Mom said I would babysit without asking me if I wanted to]
always used before a noun
: of, relating to, or done by volunteers
a volunteer army/organization
volunteer work
Cite this Entry
“Volunteer.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/volunteer. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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