noun

welfare

WEHL-feh-uh

noun

A person's general health, happiness, and safety; well-being.

"The teacher was genuinely concerned about the welfare of every student."

"Animal welfare groups campaigned against the new farming methods."

Government financial assistance given to people in need.

"After losing his job, he had to apply for welfare to cover rent."

How to Use Welfare

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither someone's general well-being, or state financial support for people who need it.

UK vs US

In UK English, government support is more often called "benefits"; "welfare" in the US is the standard everyday term for the same thing.

Common pairings

child welfare welfare of the community on welfare welfare payments

Word Forms

welfared past tense, welfares plural, welfares singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The teacher was genuinely concerned about the _____ of every student.

Etymology

From the Old English phrase wel faran, "to fare well" — literally to travel or get along successfully. It later narrowed to mean government support for people in need, a sense first recorded in the early twentieth century.

Rhymes for welfare

are dare care hare mare fare bare rare ware gare share snare

See all rhymes for welfare →