lip service
noun
: an avowal of advocacy, adherence, or allegiance expressed in words but not backed by deeds
—usually used with pay
Examples of lip service in a Sentence
She paid lip service to blue-collar workers, but she did nothing to help them.
So far all we've gotten from him is lip service.
Recent Examples on the Web
Harlem’s Fashion Row is doing revolutionary work within an industry that often has little to no regard for Black designers beyond lip service.
—
Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
Oliver also isn’t a nihilist or a class warrior, despite paying lip service to the victimless nature of stealing from insured banks and stores.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
The Smashing Machine particularly fails Dawn, whose frustrations get quite a bit of lip service but little depiction.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2025
Despite the administration’s lip service toward government efficiency, the policy change is threatening to be an administrative nightmare.
—Neale Mahoney, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lip service
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Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
Oliver also isn’t a nihilist or a class warrior, despite paying lip service to the victimless nature of stealing from insured banks and stores.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
The Smashing Machine particularly fails Dawn, whose frustrations get quite a bit of lip service but little depiction.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2025
Despite the administration’s lip service toward government efficiency, the policy change is threatening to be an administrative nightmare.
—Neale Mahoney, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lip service
Cite this Entry
“Lip service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lip%20service. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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