Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

self-serving

adjective self-serv·ing \ ˌself-ˈsər-viŋ \
|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of self-serving

: serving one's own interests often in disregard of the truth or the interests of others
—

self-servingly

adverb

See self-serving defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of self-serving

1615

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

SELF-SERVING Defined for English Language Learners

self-serving

adjective

Definition of self-serving for English Language Learners

  • : having or showing concern only about your own needs and interests

Learn More about self-serving

  1. See words that rhyme with self-serving

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up self-serving? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

voracity

play

the quality or state of being insatiable

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

self-serving

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games