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social work
noun
: any of various professional activities or methods concretely concerned with providing social services and especially with the investigation, treatment, and material aid of the economically, physically, mentally, or socially disadvantaged
social worker
noun
Examples of social work in a Sentence
She is doing social work.
He has a job in social work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tommie Flowers Davis, a residential contractor with a background in social work, said the panel won't be able to solve all of the city's housing woes but should engage with residents regularly.
—
Stacy Ryburn, arkansasonline.com, 27 June 2024
Kase earned a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in social work, graduating in 2007.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 22 June 2024
Ames-Messinger has a similar background, starting her career as a teacher at Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School before transitioning into other roles in social work and serving as a community school coordinator.
—
Kiersten Hacker, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2024
Lopez took on roughly $200,000 to get an undergraduate and then a master's degree in social work, putting him on the high end of the spectrum of student debt carried by Americans.
—
Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for social work ![](/dist-cross-dungarees/2024-07-26--16-18-58-h04dq/images/svg/redesign/arrow-right-exemplar.svg)
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'social work.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1847, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near social work
Cite this Entry
“Social work.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20work. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Kids Definition
social work
noun
: any of various professional activities or methods concerned especially with providing services (as counseling, job training, or financial assistance) designed to promote social well-being (as of the economically disadvantaged)
social worker
noun
Medical Definition
social work
noun
: any of various professional services, activities, or methods concretely concerned with the investigation, treatment, and material aid of the economically, physically, mentally, or socially disadvantaged
More from Merriam-Webster on social work
Nglish: Translation of social work for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about social work
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