51Թ

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welfare

[wel-fair]

noun

  1. the good fortune, health, happiness, prosperity, etc., of a person, group, or organization; well-being.

    to look after a child's welfare; the physical or moral welfare of society.

  2. welfare work.

  3. financial or other assistance to an individual or family from a city, state, or national government.

    Thousands of jobless people in this city would starve if it weren't for welfare.

  4. (initial capital letter)a governmental agency that provides funds and aid to people in need, especially those unable to work.



welfare

/ ˈɛˌɛə /

noun

  1. health, happiness, prosperity, and well-being in general

    1. financial and other assistance given to people in need

    2. ( as modifier )

      welfare services

  2. Also called: welfare work.plans or work to better the social or economic conditions of various underprivileged groups

  3. informalthe public agencies involved with giving such assistance

  4. in receipt of financial aid from a government agency or other source

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

welfare

  1. Government-provided support for those unable to support themselves. In the United States, it is undertaken by various federal, state, and local agencies under the auspices of different programs, the best known of which are Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and food stamps.

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Other 51Թ Forms

  • antiwelfare adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of welfare1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from phrase wel fare; equivalent to well 1 + fare
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of welfare1

C14: from the phrase wel fare; related to Old Norse velferth, German Wohlfahrt; see well 1 , fare
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. on welfare, receiving financial aid from the government or from a private organization because of hardship and need.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Meanwhile, the UK government said it was building a "clear evidence base to inform future action", with an updated animal welfare strategy due to be published later this year.

From

They said the government "isn't addressing the fundamentals – we can't deal with debt, defence, and growth while having over half the state going towards the NHS and welfare, it doesn't add up".

From

Mr Fanning, 73 previously told BBC Scotland News both governments were "guilty through action and inaction, of damaging the welfare of pensioners."

From

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is making changes to her package of welfare reforms in an attempt to reassure Labour MPs who are considering rebelling against the plans.

From

She said her department was "exploring ways to improve the safety and welfare of children in martial arts".

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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