involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˌ)in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē 
-ˌte-rē
Synonyms
Examples of involuntary in a Sentence
Breathing and circulation are involuntary processes.
When the door burst open, she let out an involuntary shriek.
The lawyer argued that the client's confession was involuntary.
Recent Examples on the Web
Business leaders need to move on from the privacy debate and consider how to distribute all the value created by the voluntary or involuntary sharing of personal data.
—
James Felton Keith, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Digital tools let online platforms harness the latter, addressing our involuntary impulses rather than our higher-order desires.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Ting, a tenured faculty member, was placed on involuntary leave pending formal charges.
—Alexis Timko, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Most program clients were able to achieve their goals, which commonly included preventing an involuntary move, preventing an eviction judgment and getting at least a month to find a new place, according to the report.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for involuntary 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
James Felton Keith, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Digital tools let online platforms harness the latter, addressing our involuntary impulses rather than our higher-order desires.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Ting, a tenured faculty member, was placed on involuntary leave pending formal charges.
—Alexis Timko, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Most program clients were able to achieve their goals, which commonly included preventing an involuntary move, preventing an eviction judgment and getting at least a month to find a new place, according to the report.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for involuntary
Dictionary Entries Near involuntary
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involuntary. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˈ)in-ˈväl-ən-ˌter-ē
1
: not made or done willingly or from choice : unwilling
2
: being enforced or required : mandatory
3
: not normally under the control of the will
an involuntary response to a stimulus
Medical Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˈ)in-ˈväl-ən-ˌter-ē
: not subject to control of the will : reflex
involuntary contractions
Legal Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē
: done, made, or initiated contrary to or without one's choice
an involuntary confession
an involuntary lien
an involuntary plaintiff joined in the action
involuntarily
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share