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

Etymology

Origin of social work

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

After leaving social work, Walton-Cole experienced another side of court when she was called for jury service last year at Guildford Crown Court in Surrey.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

Walton-Cole says access issues like these were a "massive factor" in her decision to leave social work "because there's just too many barriers in the court system".

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

“I can count on one hand the number of repairs I’ve needed and I’ve never been stranded,” said Gleeson, a former software engineer who is now working toward a master’s degree in social work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

Plus, more workers have opted to go back to school for advanced degrees in social work and health professions, among other fields.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

After the meeting I met an Irish girl who worked for an advertising agency, a girl who did social work, a schoolteacher, and the wife of a prominent university professor.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright