bé·né·vole — noun and adjective
Bénévole: definition
A bénévole is a person who freely gives their time, without payment, to act for the benefit of others — the French word for volunteer.
The official definition
“Any person who freely commits to carrying out unpaid action for the benefit of others, outside of their professional and family time.”
Definition given by the French Economic and Social Council (Conseil économique et social) in its opinion of 24 February 1993 — the reference definition used by French public institutions.
Three criteria make someone a bénévole: a freely chosen commitment (no one can be obliged to volunteer), the absence of payment (expenses may be reimbursed, but time is given, not sold), and action directed toward others — beyond one's own professional and family circle.
Bénévolat: definition
If the bénévole is the person, the bénévolat is the activity. Bénévolat is all action carried out freely and without payment, within an association or organisation, for the benefit of others or the common good — what English calls volunteering.
Doing bénévolat means committing as a bénévole — occasionally or regularly — with no fixed duration. It differs from paid work (no pay, no subordination) and from volontariat, which rests on a contract and an allowance (see below).
Etymology: “the one who wishes well”
The word comes from the Latin benevolus, formed from bene (“well”) and velle (“to wish, to want”): literally, the one who wishes well. The same root gives the French bienveillant (benevolent). A bénévole is, by the very origin of the word, someone whose will is turned toward the good of others.
What the dictionaries say
The major reference dictionaries agree. Larousse, foremost among them, rests the definition of bénévole on two pillars: free choice (one acts without being compelled) and gratuitousness (one is not paid). The sense of the word has not shifted since its Latin origin.
To consult it directly: the entry « bénévole » on Larousse.fr.
How French institutions define it
The French administration (associations.gouv.fr) describes the bénévole as someone who gives their time, unpaid, to take part in an association's activity or an action serving others.
— associations.gouv.fr
France Bénévolat, the reference network for volunteering, stresses that bénévolat is a freely chosen commitment — one that can never replace salaried employment.
— France Bénévolat
And the reference definition itself — quoted at the top of this page — comes from the Conseil économique et social (1993): a bénévole commits freely, unpaid, for others, outside professional and family time.
— Conseil économique et social (CESE), 1993
Bénévole, volontaire, salarié: the differences
| Bénévole | Volontaire | Salarié | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commitment | Free, can stop anytime | Formal framework (e.g. Service Civique) | Employment contract |
| Payment | None (expenses reimbursable) | Allowance (indemnité) | Salary |
| Time | Freely chosen, alongside one's life | Full- or part-time, fixed duration | Contractual hours |
Both bénévole and volontaire translate to “volunteer” in English — one reason the two are often confused. In French usage, the bénévolat is a gift of time; the volontariat is a status.
Bénévole in English
As a noun, bénévole = volunteer. As an adjective, it describes unpaid activity: travail bénévole (volunteer work), association gérée par des bénévoles (an organisation run by volunteers). The related noun le bénévolat means volunteering as a whole.
Volunteering in France, in numbers
Source: France Bénévolat / IFOP barometer, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What does bénévole mean in English?
Bénévole translates to volunteer — a person who freely gives their time to help others without being paid. As an adjective, it also describes the activity itself (travail bénévole = volunteer work).
Can a bénévole be paid?
No — working without payment is the heart of the definition. Associations may however reimburse actual expenses (transport, meals, equipment) without affecting volunteer status.
What is the difference between bénévole and volontaire?
In France these are distinct: a bénévole volunteers freely, with no contract, and can stop at any time. A volontaire (civic service, international volunteering) commits within a formal legal framework, full- or part-time, with a contract and an allowance. Both translate to 'volunteer' in English, which is why the distinction confuses many learners.
Sources
And in practice?
The best way to understand what a bénévole is: become one. Over 15,000 missions across France are waiting.
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