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

Then there’s the basic issue of trash, which ranges from discarded fast food wrappers lining gutters to illegal dumping problems in Watts, Wilmington and other neighborhoods.

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When you scan their rural town, a wasteland of Dollar General stores and fast food chains, most of their neighbors seem to have already faded away.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Jack in the Box, the San Diego-based fast food chain offering burgers, chicken and more, announced plans to close 150 to 200 stores.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Consumers have complained about higher prices for fast food in recent years, especially for a visit to McDonald’s.

Read more on MarketWatch

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

Read more on BBC

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.