social security
noun
1
: the principle or practice or a program of public provision (as through social insurance or assistance) for the economic security and social welfare of the individual and his or her family
especially,
Social Security
: a U.S. government program established in 1935 to include old-age and survivors insurance, contributions to state unemployment insurance, and old-age assistance
2
: money paid out through a social security program
began collecting social security
Examples of social security in a Sentence
She is living on social security.
He began collecting Social Security checks.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rising payroll bills — partly because of the Government’s decision to raise the minimum wage and increase the contributions employers pay towards social security benefits — and uplifts in other costs, such as energy, have all hit profitability.
—
Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
O’Neill’s brother convinced the couple to provide him with O’Neill’s checking account number and social security number by telling them that O’Neill was in line for an inheritance.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025
Birth certificates, driver’s licenses and social security cards can take weeks to replace, and losing them can restart the process of getting someone supportive housing.
—Keely Doll, The Courier-Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
The overall value of each portion tallies more than $500k before it’s subjected to currency conversion costs from US dollars into UK pound sterling, alongside relevant employer costs, taxes and social security costs.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for social security
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Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
O’Neill’s brother convinced the couple to provide him with O’Neill’s checking account number and social security number by telling them that O’Neill was in line for an inheritance.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025
Birth certificates, driver’s licenses and social security cards can take weeks to replace, and losing them can restart the process of getting someone supportive housing.
—Keely Doll, The Courier-Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
The overall value of each portion tallies more than $500k before it’s subjected to currency conversion costs from US dollars into UK pound sterling, alongside relevant employer costs, taxes and social security costs.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for social security
Cite this Entry
“Social security.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20security. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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