human services
Americanplural noun
Etymology
Origin of human services
First recorded in 1700–10 in the sense “provided by humans,” and in 1935–40 for the current sense
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.
Consider Xavier Becerra, who served as Joe Biden’s health and human services secretary and has recently surged in the gubernatorial polls.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
The telehealth coverage is part of a government funding proposal totaling roughly $1.2 trillion in spending for the departments of labor, health and human services, education, defense, transportation and other agencies.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 24, 2026
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the United States secretary of health and human services, has some strong opinions about teeth.
From Slate • Jul. 15, 2025
Attorney who had given Epsten a sweetheart deal, to be his secretary of health and human services.
From Salon • Jul. 14, 2025
Chambers said she didn’t think it would be beneficial to make cuts, particularly to health and human services programs.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2024
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
