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

His mother taught social work while his father worked as a student administrator. —Mo Rocca, CBS News, 24 May 2026

But longtime Governor’s Councilor Christopher Ianella, of Boston, who voted against appointing DeMore, says the Parole Board needs more members with backgrounds in social work and psychology. —Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026

Lynne Baker Baker, a licensed clinical social worker, has spent nearly 50 years in the public education sector teaching, counseling and doing social work. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026

But other healthcare fields, such as nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, social work and occupational therapy, were not included in the definition. —ABC News, 19 May 2026

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
• telework

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