social service

American  

noun

• social services
  plural

1. organized welfare efforts carried on under professional auspices by trained personnel.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• social-service
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• social services
  plural

Etymology

Origin of social service

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

social service

There’s a concentration of social service agencies in the neighborhood, said Stefanie Keenan, a longtime neighborhood volunteer and activist.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2026

Although CPS is a social service agency, it has a lot of overlap with the criminal justice system.

From Salon ● Apr. 7, 2025

Suga started his service last year and is working as a social service agent after being ruled unfit for regular combat duty.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2024

This is generally done by third-party vendors, often “street teams,” who solicit in front of public buildings — such as social service benefits offices — or near supermarkets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2024

And some evenings I'd catch her and Ty'ree whispering about different doctors, their fees, and social service benefits.

From "Miracle's Boys" by Jacqueline Woodson