welfare state

noun

1

: a social system based on the assumption by a political state of primary responsibility for the individual and social welfare of its citizens

2

: a nation or state characterized by the operation of the welfare state system

Examples of welfare state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is a key reason why the current U.K. Government’s attempts to reform the welfare state, which are putting it at odds with some of its own MPs and supporters, are so crucial. —Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

Opponents of immigration are prone to say that the existence of the welfare state makes the inflow of workers from Central America a non-starter. —John Tamny, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

Since 1980, the working people in countries that built welfare states have only lost, while income concentration has increased. —Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 8 May 2025

The deluge of immigration that followed has strained Canada’s welfare state and exacerbated the housing shortage. —The Editors, National Review, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for welfare state

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

welfare state

noun

: a social system in which the government takes on much of the responsibility for the individual and group welfare of its people