welfare state

noun

1

: a social system based on the assumption by a political state of primary responsibility for the individual and social welfare of its citizens

2

: a nation or state characterized by the operation of the welfare state system

Examples of welfare state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Brügger, who’s made a specialty of exposing corruption, human rights, and law-violating kingpins, sees an opportunity to question the myth of Denmark as the least corrupt country in the world, a welfare state supposedly built on trust. —Annika Pham, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025

VATs are revenue-raising mechanisms that have done a lot to pay for the expansion of large European welfare states. —Veronique De Rugy, Orange County Register, 30 Jan. 2025

This was the beginning of the modern welfare state, which inspired Franklin Roosevelt to sign America's Social Security system into law in 1935. —Star Parker, arkansasonline.com, 6 Feb. 2025

Those on the left blame the unbearable costs of raising children in the US, our weak welfare state, and assorted world crises like climate change for discouraging people from having kids. —Dylan Scott, Vox, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

welfare state

noun

: a social system in which the government takes on much of the responsibility for the individual and group welfare of its people