Phrase guide

social security

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A system whereby the state either through general or specific taxation provides various benefits to help ensure the wellbeing of its citizens.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Those benefits paid under such a system.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A specific such social benefit providing income in retirement or disability.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, uncountable

Examples

  • Near-synonym: social insurance (not always different)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: social insurance

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

social welfare program in the U.S.; includes old-age and survivors insurance and some unemployment insurance and old-age assistance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: social insurance

Narrower terms: old-age insurance, survivors insurance

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

34 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 社會保障 /社会保障 (shèhuì bǎozhàng) — system
  • Chinese Mandarin: 社保 (shèbǎo) — system
  • Czech: sociální zabezpečení — system
  • Dutch: sociale zekerheid — system
  • Finnish: sosiaaliturva — system
  • Finnish: sosiaaliturvajärjestelmä — system
  • French: sécurité sociale — system
  • Georgian: სოციალური უსაფრთხოება (socialuri usaprtxoeba) — system
  • German: soziale Sicherheit — system
  • German: Sozialversicherung — system
  • Haitian Creole: sekirite sosyal — system
  • Indonesian: jaminan sosial — system
  • Irish: slándáil shóisialach — system
  • Irish: slándáil shóisialta — system
  • Japanese: 社会保障 (shakai hoshō) — system
  • Korean: 사회보장 (sahoebojang) — system
  • Polish: opieka społeczna — system
  • Polish: pomoc społeczna — system
  • Portuguese: seguridade social — system
  • Portuguese: segurança social — system
  • Russian: социа́льное обеспече́ние (sociálʹnoje obespečénije) — system
  • Spanish: seguridad social — system
  • Vietnamese: an sinh xã hội — system
  • Chinese Mandarin: 福利金 (fúlìjīn) — benefits
  • Dutch: uitkering — benefits
  • Finnish: sosiaaliturva — benefits
  • Finnish: sosiaalietu — benefits
  • French: sécurité sociale — benefits
  • German: Sozialversicherungsleistungen — benefits
  • Polish: socjal — benefits
  • Polish: zasiłek socjalny — benefits
  • Russian: социа́льное обеспече́ние (sociálʹnoje obespečénije) — benefits
  • Russian: посо́бие (posóbije) — benefits
  • Russian: социа́льная по́мощь (sociálʹnaja pómoščʹ) — benefits