social welfare

noun

: organized public or private social services for the assistance of disadvantaged groups
specifically : social work

Examples of social welfare in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Two years later, presidential candidate Ronald Reagan seized on her story to attack waste in social welfare programs. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026 Indigenous and rural Bolivians who backed Paz's campaign promises to upend the status quo while protecting social welfare have called on him to step down. — ABC News, 27 May 2026 Focus on essential services, stop encouraging social welfare as a normative condition for our residents and learn to say no to wasteful handouts. — Sam Schulz, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2026 During these meetings, social welfare officers actively raise awareness about child protection and the right of teenage mothers to continue their education. — Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for social welfare

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of social welfare was in 1912

Rhymes for social welfare

See All Rhymes for social welfare

Browse Nearby Words

social weaverbird
social welfare
social whale
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Cite this Entry

“Social welfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20welfare. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

social welfare

noun
social wel·​fare -ˈwel-ˌfa(ə)r, -ˌfe(ə)r How to pronounce social welfare (audio)
: organized public or private social services for the assistance of disadvantaged groups
specifically : social work

More from Merriam-Webster on social welfare

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about social welfare

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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