voluntary

volontaire, facultatif

Fait librement, parce qu’on le souhaite, sans y être obligé.

En anglais simple : Done because someone freely chooses to do it, without being forced.

• Attendance is voluntary.
• They made a voluntary donation to the school.
• Was his decision to leave completely voluntary?

Synonymes : optional, willing

Contraires : compulsory, involuntary

Expressions courantes : voluntary participation, voluntary donation, voluntary agreement

bénévole

Qui travaille ou se fait pour aider les autres sans recevoir d’argent.

En anglais simple : Working or done to help others without receiving money.

• She does voluntary work.
• The museum relies on voluntary staff.
• He took a voluntary role helping older people with shopping.

Synonymes : unpaid, volunteer

Contraires : paid

Expressions courantes : voluntary work, voluntary worker, voluntary role

volontaire, intentionnel

Fait exprès, en sachant ce qu’on fait et en ayant décidé d’agir.

En anglais simple : Done deliberately, with awareness and a decision to act.

• Lifting your arm is a voluntary movement.
• The study compared voluntary actions with automatic responses.
• He admitted voluntary manslaughter after the investigation.

Synonymes : intentional, deliberate

Contraires : involuntary, accidental

Expressions courantes : voluntary movement, voluntary act, voluntary manslaughter

indépendant de l’État

Qui défend une religion soutenue librement par ses fidèles, sans aide ni contrôle de l’État.

En anglais simple : Supporting the idea that religion should depend on willing believers rather than government support or control.

• They founded a voluntary church.
• The voluntary principle shaped their views on religion.
• Voluntary churches relied on their members for financial support.

Expressions courantes : voluntary church, voluntary principle