social work

noun

: any of various professional activities or methods concretely concerned with providing social services and especially with the investigation, treatment, and material aid of the economically, physically, mentally, or socially disadvantaged

social worker noun

Examples of social work in a Sentence

She is doing social work.

He has a job in social work.

Recent Examples on the Web

But Anthropic’s interest in government social work illustrates its ambition for an even wider scope. —Richard Nieva, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Raised in South Miami-Dade, Valdes was the first in her household to earn a high school diploma, graduating from Homestead’s Medical Academy for Science and Technology in 2015, and the first to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree, both in social work from Barry University near Miami Shores. —Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 24 July 2025

Rodriguez has a master’s degree in social work, and the promotion would open the door to completing the hours needed to earn a clinical social work license. —Maura Fox, Mercury News, 14 July 2025

Why Leaders Should Show Up Clinical leaders and social work innovators should take note. —Sonia Singh, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social work

• bodywork
• handiwork
• ironwork
• latticework
• masterwork
• metalwork
• needlework
• openwork
• overwork
• paperwork
• subnetwork
• artwork

Kids Definition

social work

noun

: any of various professional activities or methods concerned especially with providing services (as counseling, job training, or financial assistance) designed to promote social well-being (as of the economically disadvantaged)

social worker noun

Medical Definition

social work

noun

: any of various professional services, activities, or methods concretely concerned with the investigation, treatment, and material aid of the economically, physically, mentally, or socially disadvantaged