community service

American  

noun

Law.

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

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community service British  

noun

1. voluntary work, intended to be for the common good, usually done as part of an organized scheme

2. See community-service order

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Example Sentences

The incident landed her with a two-year driving ban, as well as 100 hours of community service and up to 30 rehabilitation sessions.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Another doctor, Mark Chavez, was ordered to be confined at home and told to do hundreds of hours of community service.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Fly tippers could face 20 hours of community service to clean their illegal dumps, and fines up to £300 for the offence.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Lira was sentenced to four months in federal prison and four months of home confinement and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

Meriwether Prep had adopted him as a community service project so all the students could feel good about themselves.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan