welfare

[wel-fair]

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.

welfare

/ 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

welfare

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.

Other Word Forms

• antiwelfare adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of welfare¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of welfare¹

C14: from the phrase wel fare; related to Old Norse velferth, German Wohlfahrt; see _well ¹ , _fare

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

Example Sentences

He also promised to push ahead with reforming the welfare system, which he said had "trapped people in poverty" and "wrote young people off as too ill to work".

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Earlier this month, a spokesman for Job&Talent said: "We prioritise the rights, welfare, and safety of our workers and maintain regular communication to ensure they feel supported."

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Five years on, the Ministry of Justice's plan to repeal the presumption means courts would make decisions based on the consideration of a child's safety and welfare - without a default assumption.

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It told the BBC that legislative changes over the past year served the best interests of "public welfare".

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Referring to the welfare system, Starmer added: "We need to remove the incentives which hold back the potential of our young people."

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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