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.
But economists appeared skeptical about the effectiveness of Beijing’s plans to boost services spending, cautioning that the plan’s success hinges on deeper reforms to raise household income and strengthen social welfare. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026 Hope Florida, a social welfare program, is sponsored by Casey DeSantis, the governor’s wife. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026 For decades, states such as Illinois and Minnesota have increasingly relied on billions in federal grants, subsidies and reimbursements to balance their budgets and fund critical services, from education and health care to infrastructure and social welfare. Sheila Weinberg, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026 Immigration authorities say the controversial crackdown is needed to root out fraud in social welfare programs officials say is linked to Somali immigrants. Michael Loria, USA Today, 15 Jan. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Social welfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20welfare. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

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

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