Skip to main content
Social Security

Social Security

325 2.8
A United States government program that gives money to people who are retired, disabled, or unemployed
  • noun
  • /ˈsoʊʃəl sɪˈkjʊrɪti/
  • US
translation icon : Seguridad Social
  • One of us has spent his entire life fighting against cuts in Social Security, wanting to expand Social Security.
  • Social Security benefits
  • Social Security number
  • Social Security and Medicare

So you will have potentially reduced Social Security benefits upon retirement.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • She had just moved down to Florida earlier that year to finally retire on Social Security.

  • By providing for the financial needs of the elderly, Social Security frees adult children.

    Academic text (1991)
  • OK, we have a Social Security crisis.

  • No health insurance, no Social Security, nothing.

  • And the idea that now no Social Security is even safe, right?

  • Now we're gonna lose out on the social security payment.

  • You forgot to give me your Social Security number.

  • I was left with the choice of Social Security or health.

    Academic text (2008)
  • He'd been living at a senior citizens' home and getting by on Social Security and food stamps.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Many seniors rely on Social Security benefits to support their living expenses after retirement.

Synonyms

social insurance
vsSocial Security
5 4.2

A government system that pays people who are sick, old, or out of work

is a specific US program covering retirees, survivors, unemployment, and disability

How Extensive

Social Security
  • US
325 2.8
welfare
2.3
benefit
685 1.2
assistance
947 1.0
charity
190 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

social + security

The components 'social' (relating to society/community) and 'security' (protection/financial safety) combine to suggest a state-provided system of protection or benefits, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the general idea. However, the precise institutional meaning (a specific government program with pensions, unemployment insurance, etc.), its scope and administrative details are not fully predictable from the words alone, so full understanding requires prior exposure.

Etymology

Social Security gets its name from a 1930s government program that promised a regular, safe income for people who could not work. The word social shows it is for the whole community and security means financial safety, so today Social Security refers to government money to help people in 'retirement', when they are 'disabled', or 'unemployed'.