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

Options under consideration in Japan include selling more government bonds, which means increasing its debt, raising its sales tax or increasing social insurance premiums.

From BBC • May 16, 2023

On Thursday, Mikhail Mishustin, Russia’s prime minister, said that the four regions would be part of the Russian social insurance system, which issues payments to workers when they fall ill or become disabled.

From New York Times • Jan. 27, 2023

All rights acquired as to pensions and social insurance will be maintained by Germany and the Sarre Commission.

From World's War Events Volume 3 Beginning with the departure of the first American destroyers for service abroad in April, 1917, and closing with the treaties of peace in 1919. by Churchill, Allen L. (Allen Leon)

Related Words

• social security