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social work
noun
: any of various professional activities or methods concretely concerned with providing social services and especially with the investigation, treatment, and material aid of the economically, physically, mentally, or socially disadvantaged
social worker
noun
Examples of social work in a Sentence
She is doing social work.
He has a job in social work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Austin Urlaub, 23, Michigan Finishing his master's in social work amid booming demand from people seeking addiction treatment.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 12 Aug. 2024
But the Michigan native is still the first in his family to go directly into social work.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 12 Aug. 2024
Xuân Trương is a co-founder of Access CLT and a licensed clinical social work associate who was born with Osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as OI or brittle bone disease.
—Dasia Williams, Charlotte Observer, 19 July 2024
Local commissions – comprising legal, health, and social work professionals – decide whether such a penalty is applied.
—Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for social work
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'social work.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1847, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near social work
Cite this Entry
“Social work.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20work. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
social work
noun
: any of various professional activities or methods concerned especially with providing services (as counseling, job training, or financial assistance) designed to promote social well-being (as of the economically disadvantaged)
social worker
noun
Medical Definition
social work
noun
: any of various professional services, activities, or methods concretely concerned with the investigation, treatment, and material aid of the economically, physically, mentally, or socially disadvantaged
More from Merriam-Webster on social work
Nglish: Translation of social work for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about social work
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