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

Kitty went on to earn two master's degrees from Boston University, one in broadcast and film and another in social work. —Brendan Le, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025

Master's degrees in public service fields (think education and social work) tend to have very low or negative ROIs. —Robert Farrington, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025

Unlike male officers mainly trained in law enforcement and crime suppression, Wells had a religious and social work background that led her to act as a mediator in family disputes and domestic violence. —Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025

And Birmingham, the son of a police officer and a mom who did social work, admit to being something of an anarchist. —Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social work

• bodywork
• handiwork
• ironwork
• latticework
• masterwork
• metalwork
• needlework
• openwork
• overwork
• paperwork
• subnetwork
• artwork

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