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
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 Tori Otten 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
Ellie Wolfe Examples of social service in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The agency also offers Sabbath food boxes at no cost, refers individuals for health care and social services and manages a closet full of modest clothing for observant women.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
Frontline workers are disproportionately affected by myriad societal dynamics – economic uncertainty, inflation, decreased social services and an education system that is only just beginning to build pipelines for vocational skills, particularly those being fueled from rather than threatened by AI.
—Stacey Zolt Hara, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
But further cuts to social service programs could be a heavy lift for Hill Republicans in an election year.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
His proposal would also shift some responsibilities like eligibility verification away from counties, which currently do most of the work of administering social services programs in Minnesota.
—Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for social service
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Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
Frontline workers are disproportionately affected by myriad societal dynamics – economic uncertainty, inflation, decreased social services and an education system that is only just beginning to build pipelines for vocational skills, particularly those being fueled from rather than threatened by AI.
—Stacey Zolt Hara, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
But further cuts to social service programs could be a heavy lift for Hill Republicans in an election year.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
His proposal would also shift some responsibilities like eligibility verification away from counties, which currently do most of the work of administering social services programs in Minnesota.
—Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for social service
Cite this Entry
“Social service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20service. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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