service

The word “service” means work done to help or benefit someone, or the act of providing this. In plain terms, help or work provided to others, or the maintenance done on a machine.

“Service” is pronounced SUR-vihs (/ˈsɝvɪs/ in IPA).

Here is “service” used in a sentence: “The hotel is known for its excellent service.”

Words with a similar meaning to “service” include attend, wait on, go to bed with and sleep with.

The opposite of “service” — its antonyms — is antonym(s) of.

Depending on how it is used, “service” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “service” comes from Latin. From Old French servise, from Latin servitium ("slavery, service"), from servus ("slave, servant").

“Service” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

A product is a physical, tangible good you can own and keep, like a phone or a chair. A service is intangible work performed to help you, such as a haircut, repair, or advice. You take home a product; you experience a service as it's provided.

Service takes many forms: customer service that helps buyers, public services like healthcare and transport, professional services such as legal or financial advice, and food or hospitality service. Each involves work done to benefit someone rather than delivering a physical product.

Good service builds trust and loyalty, turning first-time customers into repeat ones. It shapes how people feel about a business, often mattering more than price. Helpful, reliable service solves problems, creates positive word of mouth, and sets an organization apart from its competitors.

A restaurant meal involves service: staff take your order, prepare the food, and bring it to your table — work done to benefit you. Other examples include a plumber fixing a leak, a bank processing a payment, or a teacher giving a lesson.