social insurance

noun

: protection of the individual against economic hazards (such as unemployment, old age, or disability) in which the government participates or enforces the participation of employers and affected individuals

Examples of social insurance in a Sentence

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.
The result was the election of governments that adopted various kinds of redistributive policies—progressive taxation, social insurance, and an expansive welfare state—that caused inequality to decline for most of the twentieth century. Ronald Inglehart, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2015 The largest revenue sources last month were individual income taxes, social insurance and retirement payroll taxes, and corporate income taxes. arkansasonline.com, 11 July 2025 From unemployment to disease or disability, the problems of citizens were seen as risks largely beyond individual control, with governments required to step in and manage those risks collectively through broad programs of social insurance. Pierre Rosanvallon, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2015 In the long term, China needs a stronger national system of social insurance—in particular, more spending on public health and a better system of unemployment insurance—that is financed by higher progressive income taxes collected by the central government. Brad Setser, Foreign Affairs, 30 Aug. 2022 See All Example Sentences for social insurance

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of social insurance was in 1890

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Social insurance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20insurance. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

Legal Definition

social insurance

noun
: insurance of the individual against certain hazards (as unemployment, old age, and disability) that is undertaken, facilitated, or enforced by government

More from Merriam-Webster on social insurance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!