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bénévolat

volunteering

noun beh-neh-voh-LAH Rare
People & Society Community

Also means

voluntary work

Usage Note

Bénévolat denotes unpaid voluntary activity, a sector strongly supported by French associations (associations loi 1901). A volunteer is un/une bénévole, and the adjective bénévole means 'voluntary, unpaid'. The concept is distinct from volontariat, which can involve a stipend and formal commitment (e.g. national service).

Examples

"Elle consacre ses week-ends au bénévolat."

Natural Translation

She devotes her weekends to volunteering.

Literal Translation

She devotes her weekends to-the volunteering.

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