involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˌ)in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē 
-ˌte-rē
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
One change was involuntary after captain César Montes earned a red card and was suspended for tonight's game.
—
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
Like laughter, gratification is involuntary.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
The involuntary drivers of the buses that had become momentary monuments fist-bumped the fans who streamed past them.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
The parasympathetic nervous system is the part of your autonomic nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions.
—Mélanie Defouilloy, Vogue, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
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Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
Like laughter, gratification is involuntary.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
The involuntary drivers of the buses that had become momentary monuments fist-bumped the fans who streamed past them.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
The parasympathetic nervous system is the part of your autonomic nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions.
—Mélanie Defouilloy, Vogue, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involuntary. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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
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