volunteerism

American  

[vol-uhn-teer-iz-uhm] / ˌvɒl ənˈtɪər ɪz əm /

noun

1. voluntarism.

2. the policy or practice of volunteering one's time or talents for charitable, educational, or other worthwhile activities, especially in one's community.

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volunteerism British  

/ ˌvɒlənˈtɪərɪzəm /

noun

1. the principle of donating time and energy for the benefit of other people in the community as a social responsibility rather than for any financial reward

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Etymology

Origin of volunteerism

First recorded in 1835–45; volunteer + -ism

Compare meaning

How does volunteerism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• voluntarism vs. volunteerism

Example Sentences

But the staggering rate of volunteerism on behalf of Mamdani’s campaign is evidence that the story of his candidacy — and what it could portend for Democrats — reaches far beyond the five boroughs.

From Salon • Nov. 3, 2025

Experts say that is one reason volunteerism has slipped among baby boomers in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

"Mrs O'Connor frequently raised money for charities and also promoted volunteerism in parts of the developing world."

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025

The thrust of the legal claims in the cease-and-desist from Automattic revolves around WP Engine’s alleged misuse of trademarks, not its lack of volunteerism.

From Slate • Oct. 11, 2024

His government constructed makeshift schools and hospitals, parallel networks of services staffed by the Serb-dispossessed, capitalizing on a sweeping wave of volunteerism.

From Terrorists and Freedom Fighters by Vaknin, Samuel