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
Speaking of lip service: Avoid greenwashing, which can be a deal-breaker for conscious consumers.
—
Dax Dasilva, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
The question of race in a postapocalyptic setting is certainly a provocative one, but the film mostly just pays it lip service, opting instead for generic set pieces and a couple of awkward speeches.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 July 2025
Until that bench gets addressed with more than lip service, someone’s always going to come along by Mother’s Day to steal Jokic’s Thunder.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 June 2025
The idea of players being in competition for a starting job or roster spot has been lip service too often in the recent past.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lip service
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Dax Dasilva, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
The question of race in a postapocalyptic setting is certainly a provocative one, but the film mostly just pays it lip service, opting instead for generic set pieces and a couple of awkward speeches.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 July 2025
Until that bench gets addressed with more than lip service, someone’s always going to come along by Mother’s Day to steal Jokic’s Thunder.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 June 2025
The idea of players being in competition for a starting job or roster spot has been lip service too often in the recent past.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 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 21 Aug. 2025.
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