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.
The harder part is holding on to that judgment when tempted with a plausible and self-serving explanation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026
“Ghislaine Maxwell is a proven self-serving liar,” McCawley said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
It is not much more than a piece of paper generated in a self-serving way by ICE, free of review to substantiate what is stated in it.
From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026
Rodgers resigned in late October amid accusations from major shareholder Dermot Desmond of "divisive, misleading, and self-serving" behaviour.
From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026
“Well, it’s a bankrupt, self-serving way of thinking,” says Mrs. McCracken.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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.
