social security

American  

[soh-shuhl si-kyoor-i-tee] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl sɪˈkyʊər ɪ ti /

noun

1. Usually Social Security a program of old-age, unemployment, health, disability, and survivors insurance maintained by the U.S. federal government through compulsory payments by specific employer and employee groups.

2. the theory or practice of providing economic security and social welfare for the individual through government programs maintained by funds from public taxation.

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social security British  

noun

1. public provision for the economic, and sometimes social, welfare of the aged, unemployed, etc, esp through pensions and other monetary assistance

2. (often capitals) a government programme designed to provide such assistance

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Etymology

Origin of social security

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

The new rules would require a more rigorous vetting process and impose regular, automatic comparisons of subscriber lists against Social Security death records.

From The Wall Street Journal

Since the first baby boomers qualified for Social Security in 2008, the share of the U.S. population 65 and over has risen from 13% to 18%.

From The Wall Street Journal

If you translate Social Security benefits into present value terms, the average retiree at age 65 had an annuity worth $305,000 in 2019, according to research by Yale University economist Natasha Sarin and two co-authors.

From The Wall Street Journal

But thanks to programs such as Social Security and Medicare, elderly poverty is much lower than for the overall population.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 1983, Congress modified Social Security to gradually raise the full retirement age from 65 to 67.

From The Wall Street Journal