social welfare
18
2.5
- noun
- /ˈsoʊʃəl ˈwɛlˌfɛr/
- Formal
:
bienestar social
- Many citizens rely on social welfare assistance to cover basic living expenses.
- social welfare policy
- social welfare programs
- social welfare system
I remember Lewis worked for the social welfare or welfare department.
- I remember Lewis worked for the social welfare or welfare department.
- They're living on social welfare in one form or another or, and or still living at home, spending an insane amount of hours per year playing video games.
- Even social welfare here, when you talk to real social welfare professionals, what are they trying to give people a chance.
- They're like the whole country might be a social welfare program because they don't have enough wealth to just skim off a little bit.
Examples
-
Much of that increase in expenditure financed a dramatic expansion of social welfare projects and other consumption policies.
Academic text (1995) -
Hong Kong residents shall have the right to social welfare in accordance with the law.
Academic text (1990) -
I got a call from social welfare.
-
Funding comes almost entirely from the government through funding for social welfare programs.
Academic text (2012) -
I remember Lewis worked for the social welfare or welfare department.
-
In the first phase, we have to focus on unemployment, income generation, and social welfare programs.
Academic text (1995) -
Women who are recipients of social welfare services benefited from this feminist and advocacy political activity.
Academic text (1991) -
Qatar has no income tax, and its citizens are recipients of generous subsidies and extensive social welfare programs.
Academic text (2015) -
The government provides financial aid to those in need through its social welfare programs.
-
In times of economic downturn, social welfare can help support vulnerable families.
Synonyms
∞
2.3
Money or help from the government for people in need
41
3.3
Programs that help people who need support
16
2.5
Money the government gives to people who need help to pay basic living costs
1
3.2
Money the government gives to people or families who have little money
Antonyms
How Extensive
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents directly contribute to the meaning: 'welfare' denotes provision of aid and 'social' specifies that this aid is societal/governmental in scope. The composed meaning 'governmental or societal provision of financial or other assistance' is immediately derivable and mirrored in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the parts will understand it.
Etymology
Social welfare comes from two simple words: social (about the whole community) and welfare (an old word for 'well‑being' or a good life). One clear image is a town where neighbors or the government give money, food, or care to keep people's lives safe, so social welfare means 'support from the community or government for people in need'.