social security

noun

1
: the principle or practice or a program of public provision (as through social insurance or assistance) for the economic security and social welfare of individuals and their families
especially, Social Security : a U.S. government program established in 1935 to include old-age and survivors insurance, contributions to state unemployment insurance, and old-age assistance
2
: money paid out through a social security program
began collecting social security

Examples of social security in a Sentence

She is living on social security. He began collecting Social Security checks.
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.
By comparison, total spending jumped 102% in that span, with outlays on social security and employment up 207%, science and technology up 137%, and defense up 141%. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026 Now, his son is promising cuts to social security spending modeled on the austerity policies of Javier Milei’s government in Argentina. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026 Then in a complete coincidence that the show doesn’t even bother treating like anything other than a complete coincidence, Max discovers the records for a person who has been collecting social security since the program began, which is suspicious. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 The company said that the unauthorized party had access to some information connected to accounts, including names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and the last four digits of social security numbers. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for social security

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of social security was in 1908

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Social security.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20security. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

social security

noun
1
: the idea or system by which the public provides for the security of individuals and their families
2
capitalized both Ss : a U.S. government program established in 1935 to include old-age and survivors insurance, contributions to state unemployment insurance, and old-age assistance

Legal Definition

social security

noun
1
: the principle or practice or a program of public provision (as through social insurance or assistance) for the economic security and social welfare of the individual and his or her family
especially, often capitalized both Ss : a U.S. government program established in 1935 to include old-age and survivors insurance, contributions to state unemployment insurance, and old-age assistance
2
: money paid out through a social security program
collects social security
see also Social Security Act, Social Security Administration

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