lip service
noun
: an avowal of advocacy, adherence, or allegiance expressed in words but not backed by deeds
—usually used with pay
Examples of lip service in a Sentence
She paid lip service to blue-collar workers, but she did nothing to help them.
So far all we've gotten from him is lip service.
Recent Examples on the Web
Salter et al have paid lip service to the latter too, but then who writes the code to operate the proverbial robot?
—
John Tamny, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
This may make for a good talking point, but as written, the limits only pay lip service to national security and would do nothing to move manufacturing jobs onshore.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
Travelers are also increasingly seeking sustainable practices and expect hotels to pay more than lip service to environmental factors.
—Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Rather than pledging to crack down on the people blatantly breaking the law, Newsom’s early reaction had revolved around attacking Trump, paying only brief lip service to condemning the violence.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lip service
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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John Tamny, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
This may make for a good talking point, but as written, the limits only pay lip service to national security and would do nothing to move manufacturing jobs onshore.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
Travelers are also increasingly seeking sustainable practices and expect hotels to pay more than lip service to environmental factors.
—Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Rather than pledging to crack down on the people blatantly breaking the law, Newsom’s early reaction had revolved around attacking Trump, paying only brief lip service to condemning the violence.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lip service
Cite this Entry
“Lip service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lip%20service. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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