social service

noun

plural social services

: a program or effort designed to promote human or societal well-being

specifically : organized help for people who are in need of assistance with basic needs (such as food, housing, safety, or job training) or with medical needs (such as addiction or mental illness)

—usually plural

Most states are struggling with skimpy resources and a system of uncoordinated social services that is totally inadequate to serve a population of individuals whose needs are bottomless.

—Constance Holden

… attacked the idea of social services, claiming that the only entity entitled to provide care is the church, not the government.

—Tori Otten

—often used before another noun

social service agencies

Until the bridge's closure, the island hosted and supported social service programs including homeless shelters and an addiction recovery campus.

—Ellie Wolfe

Examples of social service in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These simmering resentments, along with standard NHS protocol and the need to kick the story into gear, help explain why Liz chooses to call social services when Jess unconvincingly insists her infant daughter Betsey simply fell down while crawling. —Alison Herman, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025

The health care and social services sector added the most jobs with 25,300, according to the department. —Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 11 Dec. 2025

Controversial for its conservative interpretation of Islam, the group nevertheless brought stability through the creation of courts to resolve disputes and the provision of social services. —Immigration Lawyer, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

One clear indicator has been that foot traffic through local social services programs is up, with more families requesting food and utility assistance. —Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social service

• interservice
• disservice
• preservice
• nervous
• nervus