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 platform also has a student loan self-service center and many financial educational resources online. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Travelers with biometric passports may also be able to use self-service systems for verification. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 12 Aug. 2026

Powell's video shines a light on many Americans' larger frustration with tipping prompts at self-service businesses. — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Many healthcare organizations are responding with better digital experiences and self-service tools. — Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 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