- a program of old-age, unemployment, health, disability, and survivors insurance maintained by the U.S. federal government through compulsory payments by specific employer and employee groups.
- the theory or practice of providing economic security and social welfare for the individual through government programs maintained by funds from public taxation.
- public provision for the economic, and sometimes social, welfare of the aged, unemployed, etc, esp through pensions and other monetary assistance
- a government programme designed to provide such assistance
