self-service

noun

self-ser·​vice ˈself-ˈsər-vəs How to pronounce self-service (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When purchases require careful consideration, consumers increasingly prefer conversational commerce over self-service browsing. Fayez Mohamood, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025 An open container with sliced lemons was improperly stored at the customer self-service area. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Border points across Schengen have already installed lines of self-service kiosks for travelers to register. Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025 What To Know Although Post Offices will be closed on Monday, customers can still access a variety of postal products and services at more than 2,600 self-service kiosks located in select post office lobbies nationwide. Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-service

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-service was in 1913

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Cite this Entry

“Self-service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-service. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on self-service

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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