# welfare

/ˈwɛɫˌfɛɹ/ (US) · /wˈɛlfeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/welfare
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. well-being

noun · CEFR B2

the general health, happiness, and safety of a person or a group.

For teachers: the state of doing well, especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, or health. Uncountable in this abstract sense.

- 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'.

### 2. government aid

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

money or help given by the government to people who are poor, sick, or unemployed.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to provide aid

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to provide someone with the help or money they need to live.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.