volontaire
Volontaire is a French term with two main uses. As an adjective, it denotes something done willingly and without coercion, such as decisions, actions, or arrangements that are not imposed. As a noun, a volontaire is a person who offers to undertake work or service, typically without pay or outside a formal employment relationship. The masculine form is volontaire and the feminine is volontairee in some contexts, but standard usage is une volontaire for the feminine.
Etymology traces volontaire to the Latin voluntarius, from voluntas meaning will or desire, passing into Old
In usage, volontaires are common in civil society—staffing charities, humanitarian aid, sports events, and disaster relief.
In a military context, a volontaire is someone who joins military service voluntarily, distinct from conscripts.
Distinguishing terms include bénévole, which emphasizes charitable motivation, often unpaid; volontaire emphasizes voluntary nature and choice,