fan service

American

[fan sur-vis] / ˈfæn ˌsɜr vɪs /

noun

material added to a work of fiction for the perceived or actual purpose of appealing to the audience, used especially of material that is risqué or sexual in nature: The scene where the fan favorite and the new character meet is pure fan service.

The episode had a lot of fan service involving scantily clad characters.
The scene where the fan favorite and the new character meet is pure fan service.

Etymology

Origin of fan service

First recorded in 1995–2000

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.

See Examples For:

fan service

Miranda writes another good track here but holds it back for the closing credits as it’s fan service that doesn’t fit into the plot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

And “Michael” is unabashed fan service and legacy management, with several members of the Jackson clan on the payroll as executive producers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

Variety described it as "dutiful fan service, sure to satisfy legions of cultists cosplaying in tweed, but not unapproachable to viewers who aren't entirely au fait with the show".

From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2026

He may well ignore it, continuing to prioritize fan service.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2025

In the world of K-pop, seeing idols making mistakes, being overcome with emotion, or joking around with each other is part of the fan service that strengthens the parasocial relationship.

From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2025

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