social insurance

noun

: protection of the individual against economic hazards (such as unemployment, old age, or disability) in which the government participates or enforces the participation of employers and affected individuals

Examples of social insurance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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That social insurance program ensured an income for older Americans, plus unemployment insurance and programs to help children, elders and blind people. Kat McGowan, NPR, 20 June 2025 The largest sources of revenue last month were social insurance and retirement payroll taxes, individual income taxes and corporate income taxes. Alex Thomas, Arkansas Online, 13 June 2025 And the prevalence of informal jobs that provide neither benefits nor social insurance payments, coupled with the lack of on-site worker representation or trade unions, means employees are seldom able to advocate for themselves. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019 Issue: Government spending Previous narrative or worldview: The federal government is best positioned to be responsible for many activities, including national defense, social insurance, international relations, funding research and development. Rick Miller, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for social insurance

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of social insurance was in 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Social insurance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20insurance. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

social insurance

noun
: insurance of the individual against certain hazards (as unemployment, old age, and disability) that is undertaken, facilitated, or enforced by government

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