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Definitions

lip service

NOUN
empty talk
Synonyms
WEAK
duplicity empty talk hollow words hypocrisy hypocritical respect insincerity jive lie lip devotion lip homage lip praise lip reverence lip worship mouth honor mouthing sham smooth talk sweet-talk token agreement tokenism unctuousness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Democracy depends on public schools that pay more than lip service to welcoming everyone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Presidents historically have at least paid lip service to the idea that they are supposed to consult Congress before launching a military action.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2026

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the cycle of "paying lip service to the potential of the North" had to end.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2026

Preparing Americans for this change can’t be just lip service with no follow-through.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 6, 2026

She still did lip service to the old ways, while herself nibbling away at forbidden fruit.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.