social work

American  

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.

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social work British  

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• social worker
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of social work

First recorded in 1915–20

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

social work

It is a separate degree from a master’s in social work.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

Kushner, now 80, graduated from college and pursued a career in family planning and social work.

From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026

List D schools were residential institutions for children and young people who were sent there by courts or social work departments.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Schools that charge more than the new federal limits for degrees in fields that tend not to be high-paying — like journalism, teaching or social work — could face significant obstacles in recruiting students.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

None of that would have been so daunting if the worst thing in the world was not about to happen: Ms. Sandnes was leaving to get her master’s degree in social work!

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

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