Welfare — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈwel-ˌfer/ wel·fare

Meaning & Definition of Welfare

Welfare (noun)

  1. the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity
  2. aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need
  3. an agency or program through which such aid is distributed

Welfare (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or concerned with welfare and especially with improvement of the welfare of disadvantaged social groups
  2. receiving public welfare benefits

Welfare (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the state of doing well especially in relation to one's happiness or success

    "the social worker was pleased at the improvement in the child's welfare"

    similar: good, interest, weal, well-being
    related: fortune, prosperity, prosperousness, success, successfulness, fitness, health, healthiness, robustness, soundness, wellness, wholeness, wholesomeness, bliss, felicity, happiness, joy, advantage, benefit, gain, sake, content, contentedness, gratification, satisfaction
    opposite: ill-being
    near: unhealthiness, unsoundness, misery, sadness, suffering, unhappiness, wretchedness

Related Entry: Welfare state (noun)

Welfare state is a different word from Welfare. The synonyms below are for welfare state, not for welfare.

  1. as in country, state

    similar: commonwealth, country, land, nation, sovereignty, state, client state, colony, condominium, dependency, mandate, province, settlement, soil, trust territory, democracy, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, oligarchy, sovereign, theocracy, domain, dominion, empire, kingdom, realm, republic, great power, power, sea power, superpower, world power, duchy, dukedom, emirate, principality, seigniory, sultanate, city-state, microstate, ministate, nation-state, fatherland, homeland, motherland

Related Entry: Welfare states (noun)

Welfare states is a different word from Welfare. The synonyms below are for welfare states, not for welfare.

  1. as in countries, states

    similar: commonwealths, countries, lands, nations, sovereignties, states, client states, colonies, condominiums, dependencies, mandates, provinces, settlements, soil, trust territories, democracies, dictatorships, monarchies, monocracies, oligarchies, sovereigns, theocracies, domains, dominions, empires, kingdoms, realms, republics, great powers, powers, sea powers, superpowers, world powers, duchies, dukedoms, emirates, principalities, seigniories, sultanates, city-states, microstates, ministates, nation-states, fatherlands, homelands, motherlands

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Welfare

The most common words with a similar meaning to Welfare:

good, interest, weal, well-being

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Welfare

Words with the opposite meaning of Welfare:

ill-being

Related Words for Welfare

fortune, prosperity, prosperousness, success, successfulness, fitness, health, healthiness, robustness, soundness, wellness, wholeness, wholesomeness, bliss, felicity, happiness, joy, advantage, benefit, gain, sake, content, contentedness, gratification, satisfaction

Near Antonyms of Welfare

unhealthiness, unsoundness, misery, sadness, suffering, unhappiness, wretchedness

Origin & Etymology of Welfare

Middle English, from the phrase wel faren to fare well

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Welfare

Words & Phrases Containing Welfare

welfare state, welfare family, anti-welfare, social welfare, corporate welfare, on welfare

Frequently Asked Questions about Welfare

What does "Welfare" mean?

"Welfare" means the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity.

What is another word for "Welfare"?

Other words for "Welfare" include good, interest, weal and well-being. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Welfare" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Welfare"?

There are 29 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Welfare". Common alternatives include good, interest, weal and well-being.

What is the opposite of "Welfare"?

Antonyms of "Welfare" include ill-being. Near antonyms include unhealthiness, unsoundness, misery and sadness.

How do you use "Welfare" in a sentence?

Examples of "Welfare" in a sentence: "the social worker was pleased at the improvement in the child's welfare".

Is "Welfare" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Welfare" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Welfare" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Welfare" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Welfare"?

"Welfare" is pronounced /ˈwel-ˌfer/ and divided into syllables as wel·fare.