social service
noun
: an activity designed to promote social well-being
specifically
: organized philanthropic assistance (such as counseling, job training, or financial support)
It operates like a mall with specialty shops, treating students like customers, or the adult clients of a social service, rather than as young people in need of an education for a worthy life. —
Joseph Featherstone
Joseph Featherstone 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
—often used before another noun Constance Holden social service agencies
a social service project
Examples of social service in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Salvation Army’s social service programs are primarily supported through contributions from individuals, businesses, and family foundations, with 82 percent of every dollar raised going directly to the local programs, the organization said.
—U-T Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2024
The ads were in support of Proposition 187, the 1994 law that sought to deny medical care, social services and education to immigrants suspected of lacking lawful status.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
Job changes in key Southern California business sectors, ranked by one-month change …
Health/social services: 1,321,400 workers – up 6,600 in a month and up 67,400 in a year.
—Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 18 May 2024
Riders are primarily elderly and/or disabled and use Demand Response for medical, employment, social service and general-purpose trips.
—Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for social service 
U-T Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2024
The ads were in support of Proposition 187, the 1994 law that sought to deny medical care, social services and education to immigrants suspected of lacking lawful status.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
Job changes in key Southern California business sectors, ranked by one-month change …
Health/social services: 1,321,400 workers – up 6,600 in a month and up 67,400 in a year.
—Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 18 May 2024
Riders are primarily elderly and/or disabled and use Demand Response for medical, employment, social service and general-purpose trips.
—Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for social service
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'social service.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Social service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20service. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
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