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

Robby and Al-Hashimi give her the go-ahead to call in social services, which means this whole thing is about to get messy. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026

The lawsuit alleges the freeze is based on unsupported allegations of social services fraud and violates Congress’ spending power. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026

The administration has zeroed in on Minnesota following revelations of large-scale fraud involving social service programs in the Minneapolis area. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026

The county also plans to administer elections, finish transportation projects and find ways to make social service resources more accessible for residents. —Mars King, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social service

• interservice
• disservice
• preservice
• nervous
• nervus