- a test involving the checking of a person's income to determine whether he or she qualifies for financial or social aid from a government
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
means′ test′,
means-test (mēnz′test′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
- an investigation into the financial position of a person applying for aid from public funds.
- 1925–30
means-test (mēnz′test′),USA pronunciation v.t.
- to subject (a person or a specific benefit) to a means test:Government proposes to means-test Medicare.
v.i.
- to perform a means test:fair and responsible means-testing.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
means test n vb means-test (transitive) to subject (a person) to a means test to make (a benefit) dependent on income
means-test
(mēnz′test′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
- Governmentto subject (a person or a specific benefit) to a means test:The government proposes to means-test Medicare.
v.i.
- Governmentto perform a means test:fair and responsible means-testing.
- 1960–65
'means test' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):