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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Schools, universities, health care providers, social work agencies and legal service organizations are among those most likely to face eligibility challenges. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025 By Cohn’s figuring, 46% of all master’s of fine art students who borrowed exceeded the new $20,500 annual limit in 2019-2020, as did 31% of all master’s of social work students who borrowed. Fiona Riley, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025 Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has joined a lawsuit seeking to stop the Trump administration from cancelling certain mental health grants for public schools — including one meant to fund social work interns serving four low-income districts in Connecticut. Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 2 July 2025 Also, because the programs are so far focused on higher-paying jobs, students might be nudged away from important but less-well-compensated fields such as teaching and social work. Jon Marcus, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for social work

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of social work was in 1847

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Cite this Entry

“Social work.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20work. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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