Synonyms

community service

American

noun

Law.

a punitive sentence that requires a convicted person to perform unpaid work for the community in lieu of imprisonment.

community service British

noun

voluntary work, intended to be for the common good, usually done as part of an organized scheme
See community-service order

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Community service for an increasingly lonely, isolated society?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2025

Community service would have been better, something "to preoccupy his time, not un-occupy his time."

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2021

Community service is a key mission at QND, which works to educate lifelong learners for lives of service.

From Washington Times • Jun. 17, 2017

Community service is an effective way to build community strength and interfaith solidarity.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 8, 2017

Community service may be cultivated in the home.

From Religious Education in the Family by Cope, Henry Frederick

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023