welfare
WEHL-feh-uh
Welfare (noun) means a person's general health, happiness, and safety; well-being. Example: “The teacher was genuinely concerned about the welfare of every student.”
noun
1
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."
"Parents will always worry about the welfare of their children when they travel alone."
2
Government financial assistance given to people in need.
"After losing his job, he had to apply for welfare to cover rent."
"Many families relied on welfare until the father found steady work again."
"She explained how the welfare office helped her through a difficult year."
How to use welfare
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- welfares
- Third person singular
- welfares
- Past tense
- welfared
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.
Class of 1900
welfare joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
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well-being
health
happiness
safety
security
comfort
prosperity
benefit
upbeat
wellbeing
eudaemonia
eudaimonia
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for welfare
See all rhymes for welfare →Frequently asked questions
What does “welfare” mean?
The word “welfare” means a person's general health, happiness, and safety; well-being. In plain terms, either someone's general well-being, or state financial support for people who need it.
How do you pronounce “welfare”?
“Welfare” is pronounced WEHL-feh-uh (/ˈwɛlˌfɛɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “welfare” in a sentence?
Here is “welfare” used in a sentence: “The teacher was genuinely concerned about the welfare of every student.”
What part of speech is “welfare”?
“Welfare” is a noun.
Where does the word “welfare” come from?
The word “welfare” dates back to around 1900 and comes from Old English.
Is “welfare” a common word?
“Welfare” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “welfare” have?
“Welfare” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person's general health, happiness, and safety; well-being.
What is the difference between welfare and well-being?
In the sense of someone's health, happiness, and safety, welfare and well-being are close synonyms and often interchangeable. The difference is that 'welfare' carries a second common meaning, government financial support for people in need, whereas 'well-being' stays focused purely on the personal state of feeling healthy and content.
What are the different meanings of welfare?
Welfare has three related senses. First, a person's general well-being, their health, comfort, and safety. Second, organised efforts to protect that well-being, as in child welfare or animal welfare. Third, especially in American usage, government financial aid such as benefits paid to those on low incomes or out of work.
Why is welfare important?
A person's welfare covers the basics of a decent life: being healthy, safe, and reasonably content. Protecting it matters because these needs underpin everything else someone can do or achieve. Employers, governments, schools, and families all share responsibility for the welfare of the people in their care.
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