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

And now that everything is owned by five megacorps, even the licensing will be cheap via self-dealing. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 July 2026

Other political forces are starting to reassert themselves as the US midterms approach, with Democrats shining a campaign-season spotlight on self-dealing, as Semafor’s Ben Smith wrote recently. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 July 2026

The question of self-dealing was essentially rhetorical, because the expectation that a president served the country — not himself — was foundational. — Lynn Schmidt, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Congress should fully unwind the settlement as quickly as possible and then ensure that similar presidential self-dealing can't be attempted again. — Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 30 June 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