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Glite Dictionary
🍽️ Serve yourself 🛒 Not served by staff
self-service

self-service

1 3.4
Of a shop or restaurant where customers pick and pay for items without staff help
  • adjective
  • /ˈsɛlfˈsɜrvɪs/
translation icon : autoservicio
  • There are some self-service kiosks for ordering, and some stations with Cast Members to take your order.
  • self-service laundry

So on longer flights, they have this self-service snack situation in the economy cabin, which is so humane.

Examples

  • It was entirely self-service, with the cups, hot and cold, left out for guests to take, fill, and refill.

    Blog text (14)

  • Tea and cakes waiting, as well as a self-service bar.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Would you like to try our new self-service kiosk?

  • So in Asda in the the self-service checkouts, they have an alert that says that's scanned, please place it in the bagging area.

  • The new supermarket features a wide selection of self-service checkout stations for faster shopping.

  • At the self-service buffet, customers can choose their own portions and ingredients.

  • Many travelers prefer self-service kiosks at airports to check in for their flights.

Antonyms

full service
15 4.1

A level where staff do many things for customers, like pumping gas or helping at a hotel

How Staffed

full service
15 4.1
waitstaff
  • US
4 2.8
self-service
1 3.4

Surface Forms

self-service positive

Morphology

self-service = self + service (transparent) = self + service

The adjective is formed by compounding 'self' and 'service' to describe places where customers serve themselves, which is a straightforward meaning.

Etymology

Self-service comes from the parts self ('by yourself') and service ('help that someone gives'), and as an adjective it describes places or systems where customers serve themselves. That's why a self-service shop or breakfast is one where you choose or pay for things on your own rather than being helped by staff.