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

Derived Forms

• social worker, noun

Other Words From

• social worker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of social work¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Well, I had been editing a social work journal on the campus of Cal State Long Beach from like 2000 to right before “The Goldbergs” started.

From Los Angeles Times

Hiller has enormous enthusiasm for pop culture, but when he moved to New York, it was ostensibly to pursue a social work master’s degree at NYU.

From Los Angeles Times

He switched from law to social work and had two more children.

From Salon

The NCS proposals would centralise adult social care and social work in Scotland, making ministers ultimately accountable for their delivery.

From BBC

She said social work help was provided but she needed specialist support - a child psychologist or paediatrician - as she suspected there was more to the child’s problems than developmental delay.

From BBC