adjective
involuntary
in-VAH-lun-tair-ee/ɪnˈvɑːlənteri/
Not resulting from a person's deliberate choice.
The patient's involuntary kick follows the clinician's tap below his kneecap.
Etymology
Negating “of one's free will” gives the central idea: an involuntary action does not proceed from deliberate choice, even though the person performs or experiences it.
In context
that's the twitch response that's an involuntary muscle contraction and the more of those we get the better
More examples
- Shivering is an involuntary response to cold.
- She faces involuntary retirement when the company eliminates her position.
- An involuntary smile crosses his face when he sees the puppy.
Forms
involuntary
involuntarily adverb — Without deliberate choice or conscious control.
Similar words
- automatic
- Emphasizes a response occurring without conscious thought or effort.
- unconscious
- Emphasizes lack of awareness rather than lack of choice.
- forced
- Specifically describes actions imposed against a person's will.