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
Jeff Nathanson’s awkwardly literal-minded script pays occasional lip service to these ideas, but the movie itself fails to give us anything resembling an actual cinematic experience of them.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
Harbaugh isn’t a coach who pays lip service to the importance of building powerful lines.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
These are real veterans, not the local wannabes who give lip service to those who have been in the military but are somehow unable to credit the sacrifices of those who don’t share their political party.
—Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
In contrast, organizations that pay lip service to innovation often struggle to scale their efforts.
—Ludwig Melik, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lip service
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
Harbaugh isn’t a coach who pays lip service to the importance of building powerful lines.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
These are real veterans, not the local wannabes who give lip service to those who have been in the military but are somehow unable to credit the sacrifices of those who don’t share their political party.
—Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
In contrast, organizations that pay lip service to innovation often struggle to scale their efforts.
—Ludwig Melik, Forbes, 12 Mar. 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 5 May. 2025.
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