self-dealing

noun

self-deal·​ing ˈself-ˈdē-liŋ 

: engagement in a transaction for the benefit of oneself rather than for the benefits of someone to whom one owes a fiduciary duty

Examples of self-dealing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Congress, having discovered some spine, should revolt at this blatant self-dealing as well. —Austin Elias-De Jesus, New Yorker, 3 June 2026

Long a refrain of strident progressives and good-government reformers, accusations that political rivals are self-dealing or bought by special interests have become a mainstay of Democratic primaries. —Matt Brown, Fortune, 25 May 2026

Crucially for Cole’s metaphor, Nero’s rule was notorious for tyranny, self-dealing, and extravagant public spending on the construction of monuments to and for Nero himself. —Tyler Green, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026

What's happened since post-Watergate and the way there have been certain norms on the corruption, on the self-dealing, all this other stuff. —ABC News, 17 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-dealing

• annealing
• appealing
• concealing
• congealing
• freewheeling
• repealing
• revealing
• unfeeling
• ceiling
• dealing
• feeling
• healing

Legal Definition

self-dealing

noun

self-deal·​ing

ˈself-ˈdē-liŋ

: engagement in a transaction that is intended primarily to benefit one's self or the narrow interests of a few (as corporate insiders) rather than those to whom one owes a duty by virtue of one's position

self-dealing by a trustee

self-dealing adjective