community-service order: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Legal, formal, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “community-service order” mean?
A court order requiring a convicted person to perform unpaid work for the benefit of the local community as an alternative to imprisonment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A court order requiring a convicted person to perform unpaid work for the benefit of the local community as an alternative to imprisonment.
A judicial sentence that rehabilitates offenders through socially useful work; a type of non-custodial penalty focusing on restorative justice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Terminology: In the UK, it's officially a 'community order' with a 'requirement to perform unpaid work'. In the US, 'community service' is the common legal term, often issued as part of a sentence or probation.
Connotations
In the UK, it's a specific, formal court order. In the US, 'community service' can be broader, sometimes mandated by schools or as a plea bargain condition.
Frequency
More commonly referenced in UK legal and news contexts; in the US, the simple term 'community service' is far more frequent.
Grammar
How to Use “community-service order” in a Sentence
The court issued [INDIRECT OBJECT] a community service order.[SUBJECT] was given a community service order for [OFFENCE].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “community-service order” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The magistrates can order an offender to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
American English
- The judge ordered her to perform 100 hours of community service.
adjective
British English
- He is on a community order with an unpaid work requirement.
American English
- She received a community service sentence for the misdemeanour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in HR/legal contexts regarding employee convictions.
Academic
Used in criminology, sociology, and law papers discussing sentencing and penal policy.
Everyday
Used in news reports about court cases and sentencing.
Technical
Precise legal term within criminal justice systems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “community-service order”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “community-service order”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “community-service order”
- Using 'community service order' to refer to voluntary work. Confusing it with 'probation' (which can include it).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a legally mandated punishment, not voluntary.
Yes. Breaching the order by failing to complete the hours can result in being re-sentenced, potentially to imprisonment.
Often first-time or non-violent offenders, where the court believes rehabilitation in the community is more appropriate than prison.
Work for the benefit of the community, such as cleaning public spaces, graffiti removal, charity shop work, or maintenance for public institutions.
A court order requiring a convicted person to perform unpaid work for the benefit of the local community as an alternative to imprisonment.
Community-service order is usually legal, formal, journalistic in register.
Community-service order: in British English it is pronounced /kəˌmjuːnəti ˈsɜːvɪs ˌɔːdə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˌmjuːnəti ˈsɜːrvɪs ˌɔːrdər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a COURT ORDER (order) that sends you to do SERVICE for the COMMUNITY instead of to a cell.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE AS RESTORATION (repairing harm through work).
Practice
Quiz
A 'community service order' is most closely associated with which field?