social insurance

American  

noun

1. any of various forms of insurance in which a government is an insurer, especially such insurance that provides assistance to disabled or unemployed workers and to aged persons.

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social insurance British  

noun

1. government insurance providing coverage for the unemployed, the injured, the old, etc: usually financed by contributions from employers and employees, as well as general government revenue See also social security national insurance social assistance

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Etymology

Origin of social insurance

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

The platforms also started offering some social insurance programs for delivery workers this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

“What they’re essentially contributing to is a national social insurance program,” Shedden said.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 16, 2025

Over time, the social insurance program became known as one leg of a “three-legged stool” of retirement, with pensions and savings the other two.

From New York Times • Oct. 13, 2022

Prof Doyle argues the UK government would continue to pay the pensions of people in Wales who have contributed to the public purse in taxes and social insurance contributions.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2022

The spread of altruism and the widening of the concept of social service have caused the extension of governmental activity in such new fields as social insurance, recreation, and public health.

From Problems in American Democracy by Williamson, Thames Ross

Related Words

• social security