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
Her organization, Inner Beauty, helps those who have been trafficked with meals, clothing and connections to social services.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Encinitas may feel like a wealthy community, but there are many needy people in town, particularly older adults, social service leaders told the City Council on Wednesday night.
—Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
More than $25 million was allocated to homelessness programs in Berkeley for the last fiscal year, but the city now faces an annual $20 million structural deficit, the state is grappling with a strained budget of its own and federal social services are being cut.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
The real ebtEDGE app, launched in November 2023, was created to protect against benefit theft, the state department of social services said at the time.
—Hannah Poukish
september 19, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for social service
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Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Encinitas may feel like a wealthy community, but there are many needy people in town, particularly older adults, social service leaders told the City Council on Wednesday night.
—Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
More than $25 million was allocated to homelessness programs in Berkeley for the last fiscal year, but the city now faces an annual $20 million structural deficit, the state is grappling with a strained budget of its own and federal social services are being cut.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
The real ebtEDGE app, launched in November 2023, was created to protect against benefit theft, the state department of social services said at the time.
—Hannah Poukish
september 19, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
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 1 Oct. 2025.
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