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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Shares of fast-food giant McDonald’s are unchanged on the year but have a total return of 3.7%. Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2024 Their investment vehicle, Jubilant, has interests in fast-food, pharmaceuticals, energy, and automotive distribution. Yessar Rosendar, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024 To the side of the makeshift stage, members of a production crew, fueled by energy drinks and a steady stream of fast-food deliveries, ready the next group of products. Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024 The 26-year-old computer science graduate of the University of Pennsylvania was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after an employee at the fast-food restaurant recognized him. Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fast-food 

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fast-food was in 1960

Dictionary Entries Near fast-food

Cite this Entry

“Fast-food.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast-food. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

fast-food

adjective
ˌfas(t)-ˌfüd
: specializing in food that can be prepared and served quickly
a fast-food restaurant
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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