fast-food

¹ American  

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

adjective

1. of or specializing in fast food.

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fast food ² 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.

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fast food British  

noun

1. food that requires little preparation before being served

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adjective

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

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 food¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

Anyone who wants to make a purchase needs to make a case for why gas, fast food and other potential items are needed.

From The Wall Street Journal

While you might be able to eat fast food from your lap while cruising down the highway — something I don’t recommend — Dante probably can’t.

From MarketWatch

Last year was tough, though, as enthusiasm for the brand waned and cash-strapped diners abandoned fast-casual options for cheaper fast food and homemade meals.

From Los Angeles Times

Vincent said that traditionally, "the more fast food units you have, the better the operations, the better the supply chain, the better you can buy, the better your systems can be".

From BBC

If GLP-1 use continues to expand, food manufacturers, restaurants, and retailers could face long-term changes in demand, especially for snack foods and fast food.

From Science Daily