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
That means even prior to the shutdown, roughly 60,000 federal workers faced involuntary separation, according to Kupor's estimates.
—
Andrea Hsu, NPR, 28 Oct. 2025
In Milwaukee County, law enforcement officers are the only people who can initiate an emergency mental health detention and send someone to be evaluated for a possible involuntary hospital stay.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Selecting a show may result in the involuntary viewing of multiple, in-line trailers.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
Since the state resumed executions last year following an involuntary 13-year pause due to trouble obtaining lethal injection drugs, four inmates have selected lethal injection and two have died by firing squad.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 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.
Andrea Hsu, NPR, 28 Oct. 2025
In Milwaukee County, law enforcement officers are the only people who can initiate an emergency mental health detention and send someone to be evaluated for a possible involuntary hospital stay.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Selecting a show may result in the involuntary viewing of multiple, in-line trailers.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
Since the state resumed executions last year following an involuntary 13-year pause due to trouble obtaining lethal injection drugs, four inmates have selected lethal injection and two have died by firing squad.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involuntary. Accessed 31 Oct. 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