social work

noun

1. organized work directed toward the betterment of social conditions in the community, as by seeking to improve the condition of people in poverty, to promote the welfare of children, etc.

social work

noun

1. any of various social services designed to alleviate the conditions of the poor and aged and to increase the welfare of children

Other Word Forms

• social worker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of social work¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Will West works full time as a behavioral-health technician in southern Utah as he pursues an undergraduate degree in social work.

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She earned a master’s in social work from Columbia University in 1982.

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She had been getting a master’s degree in social work when someone suggested she try the FBI.

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A council's social work policies were not followed in the case of a 13-year-old girl who died after her mum went to the pub.

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The new campus will host education, psychology and social work students.

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