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

Ten of the kiosks are located at the program sites and interim housing locations run by the People Concern, a social services nonprofit. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025

Our state is using the same playbook the current U.S. administration is using to choke out public and social services. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 2025

At Harold Washington Library, this includes a collection of social service agencies known as CPL Cares. —Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025

In those cases, victim disclosure isn’t a necessary requirement to get help; a report is made and social service agencies or police typically intervene. —Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 7 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social service

• interservice
• disservice
• preservice
• nervous
• nervus