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 Comparing the nutrition facts of fast-food items between countries reveals considerable variability. Christopher Damman, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2024 By day, diners visit Noori Chicken for their fast-food cravings. Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 Since then, the four largest fast-food companies — Burger King, McDonalds, Subway and Yum Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell) have signed onto the Fair Food agreement. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 Now, the fast-food chain will give anyone who participates a coupon for a free Whopper (no purchase required) in their account after submitting their initial entry. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 Ganesh pointed to a report published by the union on Wednesday finding that 88% of California fast-food workers do not know their rights on the job and broadly lack information about essential benefits and programs. Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Yum Brands, the parent company of fast-food brands Taco Bell and KFC, came under fire for its investment in Israeli startups, like TicTuk, an Israeli company that allows customers to order food on social networks and message apps. Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 The Goons would record their blitz-style attacks in parks, parking garages, outside fast-food restaurants and at house parties. Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 But starting April 1, most fast-food restaurants in the state must pay their workers at least $20 an hour under legislation Newsom signed last year to much fanfare. Adam Beam, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fast-food.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 19 Mar. 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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