welfare

American  

[wel-fair] / ˈwɛlˌfɛər /

noun

1. the good fortune, health, happiness, prosperity, etc., of a person, group, or organization; well-being.

   to look after a child's welfare; the physical or moral welfare of society.

2. welfare work.

3. financial or other assistance to an individual or family from a city, state, or national government.

   Thousands of jobless people in this city would starve if it weren't for welfare.

4. (initial capital letter) a governmental agency that provides funds and aid to people in need, especially those unable to work.

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idioms

1. on welfare, receiving financial aid from the government or from a private organization because of hardship and need.

welfare British  

/ ˈwɛlˌfɛə /

noun

1. health, happiness, prosperity, and well-being in general

2. 1. financial and other assistance given to people in need

   2. ( as modifier )

      welfare services

3. Also called: welfare work.  plans or work to better the social or economic conditions of various underprivileged groups

4. informal the public agencies involved with giving such assistance

5. in receipt of financial aid from a government agency or other source

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welfare Cultural  

1. Government-provided support for those unable to support themselves. In the United States, it is undertaken by various federal, state, and local agencies under the auspices of different programs, the best known of which are Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and food stamps.

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Other Word Forms

• antiwelfare
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of welfare

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from phrase wel fare; equivalent to well ¹ + fare

Explanation

Your welfare is your happiness and well being. Parents are usually in charge of their children's welfare, making sure they're healthy, happy and well fed. Welfare is a state of content or prosperous existence. So if something bad happens, your welfare is threatened. Welfare can also refer to a government system designed to give money, food, and resources to the poor. Welfare systems have been around since ancient Roman times, but the U.S. welfare program didn't start until the 1930's, during the Great Depression.

Example Sentences

CPS workers—who are often referred to in low-income communities as “the family police”—are tasked with addressing social welfare needs after they’ve already lost the trust of families by intimidating and judging them during investigations.

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2026

Similar thinking informs today’s politicians and policymakers who want to expand the welfare state to address economic inequality.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026

A few more rich-man-poor-man lines: They’re both outraged at the welfare system, they know the going rate for copper, and live in houses made of recycled materials.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 5, 2026

He had been referred to child welfare authorities for assessment, accompanied by his mother.

From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026

I put some stuff about nuisance animals on the website, mostly links to animal welfare organizations’ pages about how these predators are an essential part of the ecosystem and better ways to manage wildlife-human encounters.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• benefit
• health
• interest
• progress
• prosperity
• weal
• well-being