Word
welfare
Phoneticswel·fare, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɛɫˌfɛɹ/
UK/wˈɛlfeə/
Definitions
01well-being
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the general health, happiness, and safety of a person or a group.
n. the state of doing well, especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, or health. Uncountable in this abstract sense.
Español:bienestar
“The police are concerned about the welfare of the children living in that house.”
“The university has a dedicated officer responsible for the welfare of international students, ensuring they have access to mental health resources and housing advice.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
02government aid
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun American English
n. money or help given by the government to people who are poor, sick, or unemployed.
n. financial assistance or social services provided by the state to those in financial or social need.
“Many families relied on welfare to pay for food after the factory closed down.”
“The senator proposed a series of reforms to the welfare system, aiming to increase the monthly allowance for single-parent households.”
Usage
In British English, 'benefits' is more common for the financial payments themselves.
Teaching tip
In the US, 'on welfare' can sometimes carry a negative social stigma; 'social safety net' is a more neutral alternative in academic contexts.
Synonyms
03to provide aid
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Technical
v. to provide someone with the help or money they need to live.
v. to provide with welfare or social assistance. This transitive use is relatively rare in modern general-service English.
“The agency was created to welfare those displaced by the natural disaster.”
“The non-profit organisation sought to welfare the local population by establishing sustainable food programmes and mobile medical clinics.”
Usage
Takes a direct object representing the person or group receiving aid.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “welfare” in context.
Verb
01. depend on welfare
“After losing his job, he had to depend on welfare to pay his monthly rent.”
verb + prep + noun
02. ensure the welfare of employees
“The company has a legal obligation to ensure the welfare of employees while they are at work.”
verb + noun + of + noun
03. promote the welfare of children
“The new charity was established to promote the welfare of children in impoverished areas.”
verb + noun + of + noun
Adjective
04. animal welfare
“The organization campaigns for higher animal welfare standards in the farming industry.”
adj + noun
05. social welfare
“The government is planning to increase spending on social welfare programs next year.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. welfare benefits
“Many families rely on welfare benefits to cover the rising cost of living.”
noun + noun
07. welfare reform
“Politicians are debating a major welfare reform to encourage more people to return to work.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. on welfare
“She grew up in a household that was on welfare for several years.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“We are aware of a number of Australians in the area and Australian officials are urgently working to confirm their welfare.” “As of 2023, the highest risks of child welfare system contact were among American Indian/Alaska Native and Black children, and the lowest risks were among Asian children.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/welfare
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0