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Synonyms

fast food

1 American  

noun

  1. food, as hamburgers, pizza, or fried chicken, that is prepared in quantity by a standardized method and can be dispensed quickly at inexpensive restaurants for eating there or elsewhere.

fast-food 2 American  
[fast-food, fahst-] / ˈfæstˈfud, ˈfɑst- /

adjective

  1. of or specializing in fast food.

fast food British  

noun

  1. food that requires little preparation before being served

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. (of a restaurant, café, etc) serving such food

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

​What does fast food mean?​ Fast food is food quickly prepared and served, often at chain restaurants and typically associated with less expensive and less nutritious items like hamburgers, french fries, and soft drinks.

Etymology

Origin of fast food1

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Origin of fast-food2

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

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.

For instance, traps near campsites were disguised with trash and fast food.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

Jordan is one of several stars, including Hilary Swank and Julia Roberts, to wrap-up Oscars night with a fast food burger over the years.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Starting in April, the world’s biggest burger chain plans to launch new deals and discounts to keep the chain ahead of competitors in the battle for fast food dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

On a visit to Texas on Friday, US President Donald Trump gave a raucous speech on the economy and then stopped off at a fast food joint.

From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026

You eat fast food or the hot dogs and Styrofoam cups of soup that can be microwaved in a convenience store.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.