First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1welfare
noun wel·fare \ˈwel-ˌfer\
: a government program for poor or unemployed people that helps pay for their food, housing, medical costs, etc.
: the state of being happy, healthy, or successful
Full Definition of WELFARE
1
: the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity <must look out for your own welfare>
2
a : aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need b : an agency or program through which such aid is distributed
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Origin of WELFARE
Middle English, from the phrase wel faren to fare well
Related to WELFARE
- Synonyms
- good, interest, weal, well-being
- Antonyms
- ill-being
Other Sociology Terms
Rhymes with WELFARE
affair, aglare, airfare, Ajmer, Altair, antbear, armchair, au pair, aware, bakeware, barware, Basseterre, Baudelaire, beachwear, bergère, beware, bid fair, big hair, black bear, bricklayer, broodmare, brown bear, bugbear, caneware, carfare, Carrère, cave bear, chi-square, clayware, club chair, compare, compere, confrere, cookware, corsair, courseware, creamware, crosshair, cudbear, daymare, dead air, decare, deck chair, declare, delftware, despair, dishware, éclair, elsewhere, ensnare, eyewear, fanfare, fieldfare, firmware, flatware, Flaubert, footwear, forbear, forebear, forswear, foursquare, freeware, funfair, galère, giftware, glassware, Great Bear, groupware, Gruyère, guard hair, hardware, health care, hectare, high chair, horsehair, hot air, impair, infare, Khmer, Kildare, knitwear, life-care, light air, longhair, loungewear, Mayfair, menswear, meunière, midair, mohair, Molière, neckwear, nightmare, no fair, outstare, out-there, outwear, playwear, plein air, plowshare, Poor Clare, Port Blair, portiere, premiere, prepare, pushchair, rainwear, redware, repair, root hair, Sancerre, sea hare, shank's mare, shareware, shorthair, side chair, Sinclair, skiwear, sleepwear, slipware, sloth bear, software, somewhere, spongeware, sportswear, stemware, stoneware, sun bear, swimwear, threadbare, tinware, torchère, trouvère, tuyere, unfair, unhair, unswear, Voltaire, warfare, wheelchair, wirehair, workfare
2welfare
adjective
Definition of WELFARE
1
: of, relating to, or concerned with welfare and especially with improvement of the welfare of disadvantaged social groups <welfare legislation>
2
: receiving public welfare benefits <welfare families>
First Known Use of WELFARE
1903
Other Sociology Terms
WELFARE Defined for Kids
welfare
noun wel·fare \ˈwel-ˌfer\
Definition of WELFARE for Kids
1
: the state of being or doing well especially in relation to happiness, well-being, or success
2
: aid in the form of money or necessities for people in need
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