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Synonyms

social service

American  

noun

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


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of social service

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

More information can also be provided by a county social service office.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 4, 2026

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

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

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