Meaning & use

lip service

noun·Advanced

An expression of agreement or support that is not backed up by real action or genuine belief.

See it in a sentence

Politicians often pay lip service to environmental issues without passing meaningful laws.

The company paid lip service to work-life balance while still expecting late-night emails.

A note on using this word

'Lip service' almost always appears with the verb 'pay,' as in 'pay lip service to,' implying insincerity behind the words.

Words with a similar meaning

empty wordshollow praise

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