fast-food

adjective

ˈfas(t)-ˌfüd 

1

: of, relating to, or specializing in food that can be prepared and served quickly

a fast-food restaurant

2

: designed for ready availability, use, or consumption and with little consideration given to quality or significance

fast-food TV programming

fast food noun

Examples of fast-food in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lisa walks in with everyone’s orders and walks out with three giant bags of fast-food goodness. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Along with tip jars placed beside cash registers, customers are prompted to leave a 5% to 20% gratuity on their restaurant bills, but also on their fast-food takeout and coffees to-go when paying via card machines. — CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

The Washington Post | Getty Images Other fast-food chains are trying to edge into Chick-fil-A’s territory. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026

The threat remained only a threat, however, as her father arrived home that night upset about the planning commission’s decision to allow a fast-food chain in the historic part of Platte. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fast-food

• accrued
• allude
• collude
• conclude
• construed
• debuted
• delude
• elude
• endued
• ensued
• eschewed
• etude

Kids Definition

fast-food

adjective

ˌfas(t)-ˌfüd

: specializing in food that can be prepared and served quickly

a fast-food restaurant