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

Welfare offices became “job centers” and set welfare recipients to painting park benches, raking leaves and cleaning courtrooms.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

The project is a collaboration between the university hospitals of Helsinki, Kuopio and Turku, Hatanpää Hospital in Tampere, Hospital Nova in Jyväskylä and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

From Science Daily • May 6, 2026

Before working for the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, Amster was executive director of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and served on the board of the California Animal Welfare Assn.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

The paper, titled “A Welfare Analysis of Tax Audits Across the Income Distribution,” also said audits of taxpayers with incomes below the median yielded only $5.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

My mother began to receive two checks—a Welfare check and, I believe, widow’s pension.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Related Words

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