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

Job growth this year has been driven by healthcare and social services, education and retail — industries that the forecast does not expect to remain as strong. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

State child welfare directors say providing care for children with behavioral health needs has always been difficult — and has gotten harder in recent years, especially as states deal with cuts to social service budgets. — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social service

• interservice
• disservice
• preservice
• nervous
• nervus