social insurance

noun

: protection of the individual against economic hazards (such as unemployment, old age, or disability) in which the government participates or enforces the participation of employers and affected individuals

Examples of social insurance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Previously, non-resident families had to pay taxes or social insurance for at least six months before being allowed to buy a second home. Jason Ma, Fortune Asia, 30 Sep. 2024 This feature is similar the French model of long-term care social insurance where every retiree gets some benefit but the amount is linked to beneficiaries’ ability to pay. Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 The announcement comes as the national social insurance plan faces a severe financial shortfall in the coming years. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024 Undocumented immigrants contributed $33.9 billion in federal social insurance taxes in 2022 toward Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Lorie Konish, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for social insurance 

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of social insurance was in 1890

Dictionary Entries Near social insurance

Cite this Entry

“Social insurance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20insurance. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

social insurance

noun
: insurance of the individual against certain hazards (as unemployment, old age, and disability) that is undertaken, facilitated, or enforced by government

More from Merriam-Webster on social insurance

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