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.
Working through it with a therapist can be immensely helpful too, Emily Hein, a writer and social work student, has found. Anna Medaris, Vox, 21 July 2024 Most people will have master's degrees in social work, psychology, or a similar field. Sherri Gordon, Health, 13 Oct. 2024 Fields such as social work, teacher education, psychology, and counseling are among those most likely to fail these evaluation criteria. Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 The Life Event Services workers come from a broad range of professional backgrounds—like social work, 911 assistance, medical care, and police enforcement—to support employees with empathy and emergency expertise. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near social work

Cite this Entry

“Social work.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20work. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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