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Definition of voluntourism

voluntourism

/ˌvɑːlənˈtʊrɪzəm/
vol · un · tour · ism
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voluntourism Lexical Profile

voluntourism Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A form of tourism in which travelers participate in voluntary work, typically for a charity or community project in a developing region, alongside leisure travel.

Example

"The university's sociology seminar examined the ethical complexities of voluntourism in rural communities."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for voluntourism

Word Nuance & Usage

Often used with a critical or skeptical connotation when questioning whether short-term volunteer trips genuinely benefit local communities or primarily serve the traveler's experience.

• Rhymes for voluntourism

• Nearby Words

voluntary
volunteer
volunteerism
voluntourism
voluntourist
voluptuous
voluptuously

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 20th century as a portmanteau blending 'volunteer' and 'tourism'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Voluntourism. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/voluntourism
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