welfare

[ wel-fair ]

noun

1. the good fortune, health, happiness, prosperity, etc., of a person, group, or organization; well-being:

   to look after a child's welfare; the physical or moral welfare of society.

2. welfare work.
3. financial or other assistance to an individual or family from a city, state, or national government:

   Thousands of jobless people in this city would starve if it weren't for welfare.

4. (initial capital letter) Informal. a governmental agency that provides funds and aid to people in need, especially those unable to work.

welfare

/ ˈwɛlˌfɛə /

noun

1. health, happiness, prosperity, and well-being in general
2. 1. financial and other assistance given to people in need
   2. ( as modifier )

      welfare services

3. Also calledwelfare work plans or work to better the social or economic conditions of various underprivileged groups
4. the welfare informal.
   the public agencies involved with giving such assistance
5. on welfare
   in receipt of financial aid from a government agency or other source

welfare

1. Government-provided support for those unable to support themselves. In the United States, it is undertaken by various federal, state, and local agencies under the auspices of different programs, the best known of which are Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and food stamps.

Other Words From

• anti·welfare adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of welfare¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from phrase wel fare; equivalent to well ¹ + fare

Word History and Origins

Origin of welfare¹

C14: from the phrase wel fare; related to Old Norse velferth, German Wohlfahrt; see well ¹, fare

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on welfare, receiving financial aid from the government or from a private organization because of hardship and need.

Example Sentences

At the time, the band said it "had to take each other's welfare as seriously as the music".

From BBC

The zoo is now joining with animal welfare charities and other campaigners in calling for tighter restrictions on fireworks.

From BBC

"David's welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period. We are not in a position to comment further at this stage."

From BBC

That should motivate progress on long-standing needs such as closing the dangerously decrepit Men’s Central Jail and diverting qualified inmates to rehabilitation facilities; addressing problems in the child welfare system; and providing adequate substance abuse and mental health treatment.

From Los Angeles Times

Nineteen amendments have been proposed by the Fair Game campaign group, including excluding the possibility that the owner of a club could be a state or state-controlled entity, and making the state of the game review assess player welfare, along with an examination of multi-club ownership.

From BBC

Related Words

• benefit
• health
• interest
• progress
• prosperity
• weal
• well-being