volition

noun

vo·​li·​tion vō-ˈli-shən 

və-

1

: the power of choosing or determining : will

2

: an act of making a choice or decision

also : a choice or decision made

volitional

vō-ˈli-sh(ə-)nəl

 

və-

adjective

Did you know?

When you do something of your own volition, you do it voluntarily, which makes sense—both volition and voluntary ultimately come from the Latin velle, meaning “to wish” or “to will.” English speakers borrowed volition from French in the 17th century, using it at first to mean “an act of choosing,” a meaning Herman Melville employed in Moby-Dick (1851): “Almost simultaneously, with a mighty volition of ungraduated, instantaneous swiftness, the White Whale darted through the weltering sea.” By then, however, the word had also developed an additional meaning, “the power to choose,” which is now more common.

Synonyms

• accord
• autonomy
• choice
• free will
• self-determination
• will

Examples of volition in a Sentence

Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disorder marked by recurrent tics and vocalizations that are beyond the sufferer's volition or control.

left the church of her own volition, not because she was excommunicated

Recent Examples on the Web

Crushes often emerge of their own volition, as if out of nowhere, or some unseen force, and land on the recipient like an unforeseen weather event. —Daisy Jones, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2024

The Hong Kong firm eventually sold the two buildings to Vornado Realty Trust, a big New York real-estate outfit, and Trump, through no volition of his own, ended up with a minority stake in a Vornado-run partnership that became one of his most valuable assets. —John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024

Love, war, sickness, health, money, growth, volition, death. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 30 Sep. 2024

Americans who didn’t leave stayed of their own volition. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Medieval Latin volition-, volitio, from Latin vol- (stem of velle to will, wish) + -ition-, -itio (as in Latin position-, positio position) — more at will

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing volition

• of one's own volition

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Kids Definition

volition

noun

vo·​li·​tion vō-ˈlish-ən 

və-

: the act or power of making one's choices or decisions : will

they do not do this of their own volition

volitional

-ˈlish-nəl 

-ən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

volition

noun

vo·​li·​tion vō-ˈlish-ən, və- 

1

: an act of making a choice or decision

also : a choice or decision made

2

: the power of choosing or determining