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

The charity was created by the DeSantis administration two years ago to support the state’s Hope Florida program, which uses a hotline to connect people with nonprofit charities and social services. —Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 14 June 2025

The reductions would largely be in medical care and social services for the poor, drawing heavy criticism from their advocates and legislative allies. —Dan Walters, Mercury News, 12 June 2025

With less than three months to go, the nonprofit social service club announced in a Facebook post that the event will have more safety requirements than in previous years, some of which are being dictated by the city. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025

Suga was assigned social service agent as an alternative to military service, which typically involves a shorter duration. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social service

• interservice
• disservice
• preservice
• nervous
• nervus