Phrase guide

community service

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Service or activity performed for the benefit of the community at large, such as cleaning, fundraising, pro bono professional services, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Such work performed as an alternative for a criminal penalty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: community payback

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

an unpaid service for the benefit of the public that is performed by lawbreakers as part (or all) of their sentence

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: service

4

noun

Meaning 4

a service that is performed for the benefit of the public or its institutions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: public service

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: service

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 社區服務 /社区服务 (shèqū fúwù) — voluntary service
  • Finnish: vapaaehtoistyö — voluntary service
  • German: Gemeinschaftsdienst — voluntary service
  • Hungarian: önkéntes munka — voluntary service
  • Hungarian: társadalmi munka — voluntary service
  • Indonesian: pengabdian masyarakat — voluntary service
  • Malay: khidmat masyarakat — voluntary service
  • Polish: prace społeczne — voluntary service
  • Romanian: muncă în folosul comunității — voluntary service
  • Spanish: servicio comunitario — voluntary service
  • Tagalog: lingkod-pamayanan — voluntary service
  • Chinese Mandarin: 社區服務 /社区服务 (shèqū fúwù) — alternative penalty
  • Danish: samfundstjeneste — alternative penalty
  • Finnish: yhdyskuntapalvelu — alternative penalty
  • French: travail d'intérêt général — alternative penalty
  • French: travaux communautaires — alternative penalty
  • German: gemeinnützige Leistung — alternative penalty
  • German: gemeinnützige Arbeit — alternative penalty
  • German: freie Arbeit (Art. 293 EStGB) — alternative penalty
  • Ancient Greek: ἀγγαρεία (angareía) — alternative penalty
  • Hungarian: közérdekű munka — alternative penalty
  • Malay: khidmat masyarakat — alternative penalty
  • Norwegian Bokmål: samfunnstjeneste — alternative penalty
  • Polish: prace społeczne — alternative penalty
  • Romanian: muncă în folosul comunității — alternative penalty
  • Russian: обяза́тельные рабо́ты (objazátelʹnyje rabóty) — alternative penalty
  • Swedish: samhällstjänst — alternative penalty