Synonyms

public assistance

American

[puhb-lik uh-sis-tuhns] / ˈpʌb lɪk əˈsɪs təns /

noun

government aid to poor, disabled, or aged people or to dependent children, as financial assistance or food stamps.

public assistance British

noun

payment given to individuals by government agencies on the basis of need

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

public-assistance

adjective

Etymology

Origin of public assistance

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Public assistance for child care wasn’t an option because Washington’s vouchers are reserved for households making up to 60% of the state’s median income, or about $61,000 for a family of three.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 23, 2024

Public assistance and child support are all but inextricable.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2022

Public assistance funding covers repairs or replacing facilities damaged by the storm, along with assistance for emergency work.

From Washington Times • Oct. 18, 2017

Public assistance that doesn’t penalize people for having savings.

From Salon • May 22, 2015

Public assistance is a sacred debt of Society.

From The French Revolution A Short History by Johnston, R. M. (Robert Matteson)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023