WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•vol•un•tar•y /ɪnˈvɑlənˌtɛri/USA pronunciation
adj.
in•vol•un•tar•i•ness, n. [uncountable]See -vol-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- not voluntary; independent of one's will:an involuntary witness to the crime.
- unintentional;
unconscious:an involuntary gesture. - Physiologyacting or functioning without the will:[usually: before a noun]an involuntary muscular response.
in•vol•un•tar•i•ness, n. [uncountable]See -vol-.
in•vol•un•tar•y
(in vol′ən ter′ē),USA pronunciation adj.
in•vol•un•tar•i•ly
(in vol′ən ter′ə lē, -vol′ən târ′-),USA pronunciation adv.
in•vol′un•tar′i•ness, n.
- not voluntary; independent of one's will;
not by one's own choice:an involuntary listener; involuntary servitude. - unintentional;
unconscious:an involuntary gesture. - Physiologyacting independently of or done or occurring without volition:involuntary muscles.
- Late Latin involuntārius. See in-3, voluntary
- 1525–35
- 1. 3. See automatic. 2. instinctive. 3. reflex, uncontrolled.
- 2. intentional.
'involuntarily' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
autonomic
- bed-wetting
- blink
- blurt
- escape
- gape
- sneeze
- spew
- startle
- tremble
- bedwetting
- consensual
- cough
- forbid
- groan
- ground loop
- involuntary
- nutation
- unemployment
- unemployment insurance
- vegetative
- yawn
- secondhand smoke
- slip
- speech organ
- sputter
- start