welfarenoun [ U ]
uk/ˈwel.feər/us/ˈwel.fer/welfare noun [ U ] (HELP)
C2 help given, especially by the state or an organization, to people who need it, especially because they do not have enough money:
Your taxes pay for welfare benefits such as unemployment and sickness pay.
UK After her month's sick leave, she was summoned to see the company's welfare officer.
on welfare US
receiving financial help from the state because you are poor or have not been employed for a long time
More examples
- It is widely acknowledged that the welfare system is under-resourced.
- The whole scheme is intended to wean people off welfare dependency.
- He argues that the Congress and President Clinton trampled the constitutional rights of legal immigrants in the new welfare reform law.
- Since being made redundant, he has been receiving welfare.
- The lobbyists are seeking reforms to the welfare system.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Social security & state benefits
- AFDC
- be on relief idiom
- benefit
- child benefit
- claim
- claimant
- EBT
- family allowance
- family credit
- giro
- housing benefit
- income support
- relief
- sickness benefit
- sign
- sign off
- social security
- social welfare
- unemployment
- unemployment benefit
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Unemployment
welfare noun [ U ] (HEALTH AND HAPPINESS)
B2 physical and mental health and happiness, especially of a person:
The police are very concerned for the welfare of the missing child.
These organizations have fought very hard for the rights and welfare of immigrants.
animal welfare
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Health in general
- attachment
- constitution
- constitutional
- constitutionally
- health
- healthful
- healthy
- hygiene
- hygienic
- public health
- sanitary
- sanitation
- shape
- unclean
- well-being
- wellness