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.

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fast-food ² American  

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

adjective

1. of or specializing in fast food.

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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-food²

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

This has pushed value-conscious customers to cut back on fast food and cook more at home.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

The beloved burger chain, whose long lines often wrap around the block, has stood out against fast food competitors in its resistance to automated ordering.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Burger chains still lead the U.S. fast food industry, generating twice as much in overall sales as second-ranked fried chicken chains, according to Technomic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

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 • Mar. 17, 2026

Weekends consisted of sleep, Web surfing, shopping for random groceries and fast food, perhaps catching a part of a movie.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz