Noun

(uncountable) Health, safety, happiness and prosperity; well-being in any respect.

* , chapter=19

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare . Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.}}

(uncountable, chiefly, US) Various forms of financial aid provided by the government to those who are in need of it (abbreviated form of Welfare assistance ).