self-serving
Americanadjective
-
preoccupied with one's own interests, often disregarding the truth or the interests, well-being, etc., of others.
-
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
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
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
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
How could he trust such a self-serving idea derived from hope and desire?
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
