Social Security number

[soh-shuhl si-kyoor-i-tee nuhm-ber]

noun

1. a unique nine-digit number assigned to each U.S. citizen and sometimes also given to resident non-citizens, used by the government for Social Security taxes, program eligibility, etc. SSN

Word History and Origins

Origin of Social Security number¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

The company, which catered to customers with little or no credit history or no Social Security number, faces allegations of fraud in its dealings with banks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

You’ll need to enter a California driver’s license or ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Make sure your voter registration is current by entering your name, date of birth and ID or Social Security number on the secretary of state’s website.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This database access could expose Americans to widespread identity theft and potentially require the government to reissue new Social Security numbers to every American at enormous cost.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Bobba had sorted people with a Social Security number by age and found more than 12 million over 120 years old still listed in the agency’s data.

Read more on Salon