social services

British

plural noun

welfare activities organized by the state or a local authority and carried out by trained personnel

"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

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.

The economy wouldn’t be adding any jobs at all if not for healthcare, including social services such as eldercare and child care.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

People without permanent housing are more likely to cycle through emergency rooms, interact with social services, and appear unstable in clinical settings.

From Slate • Mar. 12, 2026

Since 2007, Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip, where it has functioned both as a military force and a de facto government dispensing social services.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

The mixed jobs picture reflects surging demand for people in healthcare and social services but a bleaker environment for government employees, factory workers and cubicle dwellers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

Mr. Orangehair walked over to her and said in a voice that was supposed to be too low for Gerald to hear, “Did you get in touch with social services yet?”

From "Forged by Fire" by Sharon M. Draper

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