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

---

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-food²

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

Declines in fast food traffic gradually improved last year, and visits in December were higher than in the same period a year earlier, Technomic said.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Science Daily

The actor, who won for his performance in the vampire-blues film Sinners, stopped by fast food chain In-N-Out Burger after the Hollywood ceremony.

From BBC

It found he spent about £1,000 on fast food for the pupils, who he knew to be vulnerable, and failed to report that they had told him they were hungry and cold.

From BBC

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