1
: the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity
must look out for your own welfare
2
a
: aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need
b
: an agency or program through which such aid is distributed
1
: of, relating to, or concerned with welfare and especially with improvement of the welfare of disadvantaged social groups
welfare legislation
2
: receiving public welfare benefits
welfare families
Synonyms
Examples of welfare in a Sentence
Noun
He wants to do away with welfare.
I have your welfare at heart.
The welfare of all the orphans was at stake.
She donates to organizations concerned about animal welfare.
Recent Examples on the Web
David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023
Documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman has filmed a lot of things — dismissive budget negotiations among UC Berkeley administrators, dead end conversations inside a New York welfare center, a live capuchin monkey being decapitated by scientists.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
The Mississippi welfare scandal has far-reaching repercussions that have extended past the state level.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 9 Nov. 2023
The outlet further reports that Reeves had a meeting in 2019 with John Davis, the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, who has since pleaded guilty to federal and state charges in relation to the welfare scandal.
—Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023
For his part, Presley has talked up his blue-collar background and values while trying to ding Reeves by connecting the governor to the welfare scandal.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2023
Police conducted a welfare check of Chyna’s one-bedroom apartment in Southwest Washington, but there were no signs of Crawford’s daughter or anything out of the ordinary.
—Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023
In September, the Army Reserve requested a health and welfare check for Card, after a reserve soldier expressed concern that Card was going to commit a mass shooting, according to documents from the sheriff's office.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2023
Fans concerned about the welfare of Frank Ocean’s leg — a last-minute injury that reportedly derailed his headlining Coachella spot earlier this year — can officially breathe a sigh of relief.
—Vulture, 9 Nov. 2023
John Harwood, CNN, 19 Sep. 2021
Starting near the end of the last century, the rhetoric of business-minded reform increasingly cloaked the politics of deregulation, anti-welfare cutbacks, and austerity.
—Kyle Edward Williams, The New Republic, 9 Dec. 2020
Layers of state bureaucracy, outdated computer systems, and, in some states, anti-welfare attitudes kept timely help out of the reach of many.
—Tracey Lindeman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2020
Even overtly welfare-ish Medicaid payments—originally intended to provide care for poor children—now go largely to long-term care for mainly middle-class elderly.
—Eric B. Schnurer, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2017
See More
Noun
Grandin has been a pioneer in improving the welfare of farm animals as well as an outspoken advocate for the autism community.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023
Documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman has filmed a lot of things — dismissive budget negotiations among UC Berkeley administrators, dead end conversations inside a New York welfare center, a live capuchin monkey being decapitated by scientists.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
The Mississippi welfare scandal has far-reaching repercussions that have extended past the state level.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 9 Nov. 2023
The outlet further reports that Reeves had a meeting in 2019 with John Davis, the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, who has since pleaded guilty to federal and state charges in relation to the welfare scandal.
—Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023
For his part, Presley has talked up his blue-collar background and values while trying to ding Reeves by connecting the governor to the welfare scandal.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2023
Police conducted a welfare check of Chyna’s one-bedroom apartment in Southwest Washington, but there were no signs of Crawford’s daughter or anything out of the ordinary.
—Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023
In September, the Army Reserve requested a health and welfare check for Card, after a reserve soldier expressed concern that Card was going to commit a mass shooting, according to documents from the sheriff's office.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2023
Fans concerned about the welfare of Frank Ocean’s leg — a last-minute injury that reportedly derailed his headlining Coachella spot earlier this year — can officially breathe a sigh of relief.
—Vulture, 9 Nov. 2023
Adjective
Moderate Democrats fear pro-welfare and anti-business labels.
—John Harwood, CNN, 19 Sep. 2021
Starting near the end of the last century, the rhetoric of business-minded reform increasingly cloaked the politics of deregulation, anti-welfare cutbacks, and austerity.
—Kyle Edward Williams, The New Republic, 9 Dec. 2020
Layers of state bureaucracy, outdated computer systems, and, in some states, anti-welfare attitudes kept timely help out of the reach of many.
—Tracey Lindeman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2020
Even overtly welfare-ish Medicaid payments—originally intended to provide care for poor children—now go largely to long-term care for mainly middle-class elderly.
—Eric B. Schnurer, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'welfare.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing welfare
Dictionary Entries Near welfare
Cite this Entry
“Welfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/welfare. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
welfare
noun
wel·fare
ˈwel-ˌfa(ə)r,
-ˌfe(ə)r
1
: the state of doing well especially in relation to happiness, well-being, or success
must look out for your own welfare
2
a
: aid in the form of money or necessities for people in need
b
: a program through which such aid is distributed
welfare
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on welfare
Nglish: Translation of welfare for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of welfare for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about welfare
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