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• means test
  means test

  noun

  an investigation into the financial position of a person applying for aid from public funds.
• means-test
  means-test

  verb (used with object)

  to subject (a person or a specific benefit) to a means test.

means test

¹ American  

noun

1. an investigation into the financial position of a person applying for aid from public funds.

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means-test ² American  

[meenz-test] / ˈminzˌtɛst /

verb (used with object)

1. to subject (a person or a specific benefit) to a means test.

   The government proposes to means-test Medicare.

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verb (used without object)

1. to perform a means test.

   fair and responsible means-testing.

means test British  

noun

1. a test involving the checking of a person's income to determine whether he qualifies for financial or social aid from a government Compare needs test

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Other Word Forms

• means-tested
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of means test¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Origin of means-test²

1960–65

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

means test means-test

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is primarily about total liquidation of qualifying assets and it is subject to a means test.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

These suggestions range from a more generous means test to universal free care - the latter of which would cost an estimated £19bn a year.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

Previous reform proposals have often combined more than one of them - such as a cap on lifetime costs and a more generous means test.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Care home residents may entirely self-fund their place, or be partially or fully-funded by their local authority depending on the findings of a means test.

From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2025

About 10 million of the current 11.5 million people receiving the payments are expected to stop receiving them when the means test is introduced.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2024

A universal basic income, or UBI, is defined as “a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means-test or work requirement,” according to the Basic Income Earth Network.

From Scientific American ● Jan. 6, 2023

They include a more generous means-test and a lifetime cap on care costs of £86,000.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2022

It would also means-test these pauses and make them subject to the Congressional Review Act, an esoteric law that allows the legislature to overturn actions taken by federal agencies, like the Department of Education.

From Salon ● Apr. 30, 2022

“If you means-test and delay implementation and put a lot of complicated requirements in, the program will not work for anyone,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2021

One way for moderates and progressives to bridge their divides is to means-test new social spending, directing it only to those who need it.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 24, 2021

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