Social Security number

American

[soh-shuhl si-kyoor-i-tee nuhm-ber] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl sɪˈkyʊər ɪ ti ˌnʌm bər /

noun

a unique nine-digit number assigned to each U.S. citizen and sometimes also given to resident non-citizens, used by the government for Social Security taxes, program eligibility, etc. SSN

Etymology

Origin of Social Security number

First recorded in 1935–40

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.

To register to vote, Californians must provide their driver’s license number or state identification card number and the last four digits of their Social Security number, along with other information.

From Los Angeles Times

Many of them paid in — using fake Social Security numbers — but could not claim benefits when they retired.

From MarketWatch

This is particularly true for people not born in the U.S., who often get Social Security numbers well before they become citizens.

From Salon

That often includes collecting passports and Social Security numbers.

From The Wall Street Journal

I plugged dad’s Social Security number into “Where’s My Refund?” at irs.gov.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023