public assistance

[puhb-lik uh-sis-tuhns] / ˈpʌb lɪk əˈsɪs təns /

NOUN

aid to needy

Synonyms

WEAK

aid to dependent children aid to the blind food stamps government aid meal ticket old-age assistance public welfare relief relief payments social welfare welfare welfare aid welfare payments

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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public assistance

My question is whether that additional income would make him ineligible for SSI, assuming he would even agree to apply for public assistance in the first place.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

For Americans who grimace at the thought of “big government,” this distanced Social Security from public assistance or welfare.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026

Much of the evidence circulating online about Haredi dependence on public assistance comes from reporting I helped produce as founder of the activist organization Yaffed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026

Detectives are asking for public assistance to help locate the 5-foot-7, 104-pound suspect.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2025

It’s the place to apply for public assistance when a father is dead or disappeared and there’s no dole money, no wages.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

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