social work

noun

: any of various professional activities or methods concretely concerned with providing social services and especially with the investigation, treatment, and material aid of the economically, physically, mentally, or socially disadvantaged
social worker noun

Examples of social work in a Sentence

She is doing social work. He has a job in social work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
McKenna Friedland is a Miami resident and a graduate student at Columbia University pursuing a master’s degree in social work. — Mckenna Friedland, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 Instead, Kellerhouse was surprised by the number of applicants dreaming about internships in social work, urban design, and art. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 26 Aug. 2026 Gary’s troubles didn’t start with the storms and run much deeper than the outages, said Erin Carreon, who is pursuing a doctorate in social work at the University of Chicago. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 Zenner, who was a newlywed at the time of her death, was described by friends as having a positive attitude and being passionate about social work. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for social work

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of social work was in 1847

Rhymes for social work

See All Rhymes for social work

Browse Nearby Words

social whale
social work
sociate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Social work.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20work. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

social work

noun
: any of various professional activities or methods concerned especially with providing services (as counseling, job training, or financial assistance) designed to promote social well-being (as of the economically disadvantaged)
social worker noun

Medical Definition

social work

noun
: any of various professional services, activities, or methods concretely concerned with the investigation, treatment, and material aid of the economically, physically, mentally, or socially disadvantaged

More from Merriam-Webster on social work

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about social work

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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