1. help that is given by government to people with social or financial problems:
• a drastic reform of the welfare system
2. money paid by the government to people who are poor, unemployed etc:
• Non-profit companies are providing job placement for welfare recipients.
• large families on welfare
* * *
welfare UK US /ˈwelfeər/ noun [U]
► the general state of health or degree of success of a person, business, country, etc.: »
Their GDP figures look good, but perhaps at a cost to their overall economic welfare.
»We are a progressive employer concerned with employee welfare.
► ECONOMICS help given, especially by the state or another organization, to people who need it, especially because they are poor: »
welfare services/programs/workers
»Some people fear the euro will weaken their welfare system.
► US (UK social security) ECONOMICS a system of payments by the government to people who are ill, poor, or have no job: on welfare »
She is a single parent on welfare.
Financial and business terms. 2012.