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

Citrus provides social services, including programs that assist foster children, homeless people and those suffering from mental illness, according to an arrest warrant. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

That pattern is likely to be replicated in future jobs reports as sectors with large shares of women workers, such as health care and social services, continue to expand while male-heavy sectors like construction and tech either shrink or stagnate. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026

Reducing social vulnerability, on the other hand, may require coordination across housing, healthcare, emergency management and social services. — Bethany Tietjen, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026

O’Flynn and Johnson play friends and flatmates who both work in social services. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social service

• interservice
• disservice
• preservice
• nervous
• nervus