welfare state

noun

1
: a social system based on the assumption by a political state of primary responsibility for the individual and social welfare of its citizens
2
: a nation or state characterized by the operation of the welfare state system

Examples of welfare state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This was the beginning of the modern welfare state, which inspired Franklin Roosevelt to sign America's Social Security system into law in 1935. Star Parker, arkansasonline.com, 6 Feb. 2025 Those on the left blame the unbearable costs of raising children in the US, our weak welfare state, and assorted world crises like climate change for discouraging people from having kids. Dylan Scott, Vox, 5 Feb. 2025 The welfare state Trump seeks to reform is a misshapen layer cake of liberal ambitions. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 1 Feb. 2025 Implications Le Grand's work on post-World War II British social policy found that perceptions of human motivations gradually transformed, with the prevailing view of the typical British citizenry morphing from knight into knave as the costs of maintaining an expensive welfare state increased. Sachin H. Jain, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for welfare state 

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of welfare state was in 1894

Dictionary Entries Near welfare state

Cite this Entry

“Welfare state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/welfare%20state. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

welfare state

noun
: a social system in which the government takes on much of the responsibility for the individual and group welfare of its people

More from Merriam-Webster on welfare state

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