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

The victim developed a drug habit in the 1980s and turned to social work after becoming sober. —Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026

In the field of social work, that could mean a cut in human employees, assuming that activities such as client check-ins or initial levels of crisis resolution can be turned over to bots. —Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2026

Here are the factors at play Flaherty, 72, is a retiree from the corporate world who lives on a farm, speaks no Spanish and doesn’t have a background in social work, law or immigration advocacy. —Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Her master's degree in social work is from the University of Southern California. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social work

• bodywork
• handiwork
• ironwork
• latticework
• masterwork
• metalwork
• needlework
• openwork
• overwork
• paperwork
• subnetwork
• artwork

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