social service

noun

plural social services

: a program or effort designed to promote human or societal well-being

specifically : organized help for people who are in need of assistance with basic needs (such as food, housing, safety, or job training) or with medical needs (such as addiction or mental illness)

—usually plural

Most states are struggling with skimpy resources and a system of uncoordinated social services that is totally inadequate to serve a population of individuals whose needs are bottomless.

—Constance Holden

… attacked the idea of social services, claiming that the only entity entitled to provide care is the church, not the government.

—Tori Otten

—often used before another noun

social service agencies

Until the bridge's closure, the island hosted and supported social service programs including homeless shelters and an addiction recovery campus.

—Ellie Wolfe

Examples of social service in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, Eighth Avenue is lined with dozens of storefronts, community organizations and social service providers. —Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 22 May 2026

North Carolina is distributing the money among existing health and social service organizations. —Sarah Jane Tribble, NPR, 22 May 2026

Attention surrounding investigations into fraud began in response to the fraud crisis with Minnesota’s social services programs, where fraudulent rings had stolen billions of taxpayer dollars for personal gains. —Kiara Moore, The Washington Examiner, 17 May 2026

Founded in 1893 by social work and public health pioneer Lillian Wald, Henry Street Settlement delivers a wide range of social service, arts and health care programs to more than 60,000 New Yorkers each year. —Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social service

• interservice
• disservice
• preservice
• nervous
• nervus