self-service

/'self'sə:vis/
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self-service

Customers select their groceries at a self-service checkout.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A system where customers serve themselves: The practice of obtaining goods or services directly by the customer without the assistance of a paid employee, typically in a store, restaurant, or other establishment.

  2. Adjective:

    • Describing an establishment operating on this system: Of or relating to a shop, restaurant, or facility where customers serve themselves.
Usage

  • As a Noun: Used to describe the system or concept itself.

    • Most gas stations operate on self-service.
    • The supermarket introduced self-service checkout lanes.

  • As an Adjective: Used before a noun to describe a type of establishment or facility.

    • It's a self-service restaurant, so you need to get your own food from the counter.
    • We stayed at a self-service holiday apartment.
Examples

  • Noun:

    • The shift to self-service has reduced the number of cashiers needed.
    • I prefer self-service because it's often faster.

  • Adjective:

    • The library has a self-service machine for borrowing and returning books.
    • They opened a new self-service laundry in the neighborhood.
Advanced Usage
  • Extended Concept: The term can be applied metaphorically to digital or automated systems where users complete tasks independently.
    • The company's website offers a self-service portal for managing your account.
    • Many IT departments now provide self-service solutions for common problems.
Variants and Related Words
  • Self-serve (adjective): An informal variant with the same meaning as the adjective "self-service."
    • It's a self-serve soda fountain.
Synonyms
  • Automated service: Service provided by machines or computers without human staff.
  • DIY (Do-It-Yourself): The activity of doing or making something oneself, though this is broader and not specific to commercial contexts.
Related Phrases

  • Self-service checkout: A specific point in a store where customers scan and pay for their own items.

    • I used the self-service checkout to avoid the long line.

  • Self-service kiosk: A free-standing machine or terminal where users can get information or complete transactions.

    • You can print your boarding pass at the self-service kiosk at the airport.
self-service

Customers select their groceries at a self-service checkout.

Noun
  1. the practice of serving yourself (as in a grocery or cafeteria)
Adjective
  1. of or denoting an establishment (a restaurant or shop etc.) where customers serve themselves