self-service

noun

self-ser·​vice ˈself-ˈsər-vəs 

: the serving of oneself (as in a restaurant or gas station) with goods or services to be paid for at a cashier's desk or by using a coin-operated mechanism or a credit or debit card

self-service adjective

Examples of self-service in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The self-service chip station was missing a sneeze guard. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 27 Feb. 2026

Research your rebooking options and alternative itineraries in advance, and take advantage of airlines' self-service tools to avoid long lines at airport agent desks or long hold times on the phone. —Eve Chen, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026

These are full self-service snack, drink, and ticketing areas. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026

Many Walmart locations in Florida have self-service lottery ticket vending machines or sell lottery tickets at the customer service desk. —Jennifer Sangalang, Florida Times-Union, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-service

• disservice
• preservice
• interservice
• nervous
• nervus

Kids Definition

self-service

noun

self-ser·​vice

ˈself-ˈsər-vəs

: the serving of oneself (as in a restaurant or gas station) with things to be paid for at a cashier's desk or by means of a mechanism that is operated by coins

self-service adjective