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.

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

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

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

Redlands school officials said the suspension of privileges will remain in place until a student satisfies certain conditions, such as attending a session of Saturday school or performing four hours of community service.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

Maybe I could do paint for community service on a Saturday when no one is here.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina

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