welfare
n. uncountablen. the health, happiness, and safety of a person or a group. It can also mean the money or help that a government gives to people who are poor or sick.
n. the state of doing well, especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, or prosperity. In a political context, it refers to organized social efforts or financial assistance provided by the state to ensure the basic well-being of its citizens.
The government is concerned about the welfare of children.
After losing his job during the recession, he relied on state welfare to pay his rent and buy groceries.
The committee's primary responsibility is to oversee the welfare of the laboratory animals, ensuring that all research protocols adhere to strict ethical and safety standards.
From Middle English welefare, probably from the Old English phrase wel faran (“to fare well, get along successfully, prosper”) (cognate with Middle Dutch welvare (“welfare”), Middle Low German wolvare (“welfare”), Middle High German wolvar, wolfar (“welfare”)). Equivalent to well + fare. Compare also West Frisian wolfeart, Dutch welvaart, German Wohlfahrt, Old Norse velferð (whence Swedish välfärd (“welfare”)). The first recorded use in the sense of "social concern for the well-being of children, the unemployed, etc." is from 1904 and in the sense of "organized effort to provide for maintenance of members of a group" from 1918.
Uncountable in both its 'well-being' and 'social assistance' senses; frequently appears in compound nouns like 'welfare state' or 'animal welfare'.