social service
noun
plural social services
: a program or effort designed to promote human or societal well-being
specifically
: organized help for people who are in need of assistance with basic needs (such as food, housing, safety, or job training) or with medical needs (such as addiction or mental illness)
—usually plural
Most states are struggling with skimpy resources and a system of uncoordinated social services that is totally inadequate to serve a population of individuals whose needs are bottomless. —
Constance Holden
Constance Holden … attacked the idea of social services, claiming that the only entity entitled to provide care is the church, not the government. —Tori Otten
—often used before another noun Tori Otten social service agencies
Until the bridge's closure, the island hosted and supported social service programs including homeless shelters and an addiction recovery campus. —Ellie Wolfe
Ellie Wolfe Examples of social service in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If a country funds things like infrastructure, social services, or research subsidies, its income is not lower when those services create little value for the public.
—James Broughel, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Progressive politicians pushed in 2020 for slashing at least $1 billion from the NYPD’s budget in favor of reallocating more resources for social services, after the city and the nation was rocked by the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2025
And the new bill could make things worse, added Chavarria, who works at a social service agency for Hispanic communities made up of both citizens and non-citizens.
—Omar Jimenez, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
The statewide committee consists of representatives of law enforcement, academics and social service providers.
—Vernal Coleman, ProPublica, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for social service
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James Broughel, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Progressive politicians pushed in 2020 for slashing at least $1 billion from the NYPD’s budget in favor of reallocating more resources for social services, after the city and the nation was rocked by the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2025
And the new bill could make things worse, added Chavarria, who works at a social service agency for Hispanic communities made up of both citizens and non-citizens.
—Omar Jimenez, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
The statewide committee consists of representatives of law enforcement, academics and social service providers.
—Vernal Coleman, ProPublica, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for social service
Cite this Entry
“Social service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20service. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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