fast food

¹

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

[fast-food, fahst-]

adjective

1. of or specializing in fast food.

fast food

noun

1. food that requires little preparation before being served

adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fast food¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Origin of fast food²

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

His business ventures also include fast food and an Amazon TV gameshow, Beast Games.

Read more on BBC

They're more likely to sleep on buses and in fast food restaurants, or walk around all night with their belongings.

Read more on BBC

Warmer temperatures may well help fuel growing rat populations but our overflowing bins, fondness for fast food and fractured communities all add to the challenge of keeping it under control.

Read more on BBC

She had been given a shift at a nearby fast food restaurant that started precisely when her lecture ended.

Read more on BBC

Cooks and cashiers at the Pico Robertson location of fast food Japanese restaurant Yoshinoya walked off the job on Tuesday over concerns about cleanliness, health and safety at the eatery.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When To Use

​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.