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
The firm said any allegations of unethical practices were the result of “disgruntled former employees ... who have ulterior self-serving motives.”
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2025
"Now he is focusing on local government which he believes is too self-serving and not very in touch with the people they are supposed to represent," said Sinclair.
From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025
The key insight, possessing the potential to unlock the mystery produced by the contradictory versions of what happened during the duel, is that both sides constructed their explanations around self-serving and misguided assumptions.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
