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

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community service

Ciara Corvan was sentenced to two years probation and 100 hours community service.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

The court agrees to dismiss the charges entirely if the defendant completes the required terms — such as community service, counseling or restitution.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

The plea deal includes a $2.25 million fine and 100 hours of community service, with sentencing scheduled for Oct.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

Truancy without an explanation can trigger sanctions including fines, community service orders or juvenile supervision measures.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

To just let me heal, let me leave the hospital, let me go to court, let me do whatever stupid community service they wanted me to do, and let me go back to normal.

From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds

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