The difference between Spontaneous and Voluntary

When used as adjectives, spontaneous means self-generated, whereas voluntary means done, given, or acting of one's own free will.


Voluntary is also noun with the meaning: a short piece of music, often having improvisation, played on a solo instrument.

Voluntary is also adverb with the meaning: voluntarily.

check bellow for the other definitions of Spontaneous and Voluntary

  1. Spontaneous as an adjective:

    Self-generated; happening without any apparent external cause.

    Examples:

    "He made a spontaneous offer of help."

  2. Spontaneous as an adjective:

    Done by one's own free choice, or without planning.

  3. Spontaneous as an adjective:

    Proceeding from natural feeling or native tendency without external or conscious constraint

  4. Spontaneous as an adjective:

    Arising from a momentary impulse

  5. Spontaneous as an adjective:

    Controlled and directed internally; self-active; spontaneous movement characteristic of living things

  6. Spontaneous as an adjective:

    Produced without being planted or without human labor; indigenous

    Examples:

    "a spontaneous growth of wood"

  7. Spontaneous as an adjective:

    Random.

  8. Spontaneous as an adjective:

    Sudden, without warning.

  1. Voluntary as an adjective:

    Done, given, or acting of one's own free will.

  2. Voluntary as an adjective:

    Done by design or intention; intentional.

    Examples:

    "If a man accidentally kills another by lopping a tree, it is not voluntary manslaughter."

  3. Voluntary as an adjective:

    Working or done without payment.

  4. Voluntary as an adjective:

    Endowed with the power of willing.

  5. Voluntary as an adjective:

    Of or relating to voluntarism.

    Examples:

    "a voluntary church, in distinction from an established or state church"

  1. Voluntary as an adverb (obsolete):

    Voluntarily.

  1. Voluntary as a noun (music):

    A short piece of music, often having improvisation, played on a solo instrument.

  2. Voluntary as a noun:

    A volunteer.

  3. Voluntary as a noun:

    A supporter of voluntarism; a voluntarist.