on welfare
idiom
US
: receiving money from the government because of a low income or lack of income
a family on welfare
Examples of on welfare in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For center-right politicians, doing so helps their long-standing narrative that liberalized markets, stringent economic incentives, and tight limits on welfare benefits are ultimately the best economic policy mix, even for workers.
—
Christian Odendahl, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2017
And if the foreign freeloader’s on welfare, so much the better.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
Too many European governments, especially the largest, have been too slow and stingy in providing support to Kyiv either for lack of strategic conviction or decades of spending on welfare instead of their militaries.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2025
The Europeans smirked, nodded, and spent their money on welfare.
—Dominic Green, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on welfare
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.
Christian Odendahl, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2017
And if the foreign freeloader’s on welfare, so much the better.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
Too many European governments, especially the largest, have been too slow and stingy in providing support to Kyiv either for lack of strategic conviction or decades of spending on welfare instead of their militaries.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2025
The Europeans smirked, nodded, and spent their money on welfare.
—Dominic Green, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on welfare
Cite this Entry
“On welfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20welfare. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share