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

CB Financial Services discovered an AI agent was unlocking nonpublic customer data, including names and Social Security numbers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

But given that you can amply cover your costs, and that you have pensions and Social Security, you could likely afford to be more exposed to the stock market.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

To register you’ll need to provide a driver’s license, a state identification number or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

His recent writings have focused on reducing the costs of federal healthcare spending and on Social Security.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

I made Bryce twenty-two years old and gave him a brand-new Social Security number, an immaculate credit rating, and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline