Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
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:

Authorities launched an investigation into Song shortly after he was discharged in 2024, when local media reported that he was frequently absent from his social service duties and took excessive sick leave.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

The court heard that Song, who is also known by his stage name Mino, had recorded 102 unauthorised absences during his 21-month stint as a social service agent.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Counties must invest in pretrial alternatives—such as treatment programs, monitoring, and social service referrals—to provide judges with options beyond money bail or detention.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 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

They represented social service agencies in the United States and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com