self-serving
Americanadjective
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preoccupied with one's own interests, often disregarding the truth or the interests, well-being, etc., of others.
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serving to further one's own selfish interests.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of self-serving
First recorded in 1900–05
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.
This conception of the court’s role is both self-serving and an ambitious overstatement.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
As a 25-year high-school math teacher in Alameda, Calif., I’ve listened to all the specious, spurious, self-serving excuses for denying students and families educational choice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
But the TRA's panel said his apology was "self-serving" and did not recognise the severity of his misconduct.
From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026
But his pitting of empathy in direct opposition to that clarity about our limitations is self-serving and, let’s be real, the kind of man-child narcissism currently being celebrated as strength.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 27, 2025
He’s not one of those overly social, back-slapping types for whom the process of acquiring acquaintances is obvious and self-serving.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
