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

“Or cuddling with your pet. Service and volunteerism can also be a joy.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

But the deluge has also inspired volunteerism among its people, as they face what their president has described as the "most challenging natural disaster" in its history.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025

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

During the year ended in September 2023, nearly 28% of retirement-age individuals formally volunteered through an organization, estimates AmeriCorps, the government agency for national service and volunteerism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

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