Noun | 1. | ![]() public assistance, social welfare, welfare - governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need; "she lives on welfare" philanthropic gift, philanthropy - voluntary promotion of human welfare gift - something acquired without compensation scholarship - financial aid provided to a student on the basis of academic merit fellowship - money granted (by a university or foundation or other agency) for advanced study or research foreign aid - aid (such as economic or military assistance) provided to one nation by another grant - any monetary aid grant-in-aid - a grant to a person or school for some educational project traineeship - financial aid that enables you to get trained for a specified job; "the bill provided traineeships in vocational rehabilitation" |