fast-food

fast-food — noun

1. meals such as burgers, fried chicken, or pizza that are prepared and served in a

1.nounA2
Definition

meals such as burgers, fried chicken, or pizza that are prepared and served in a very short time, usually at a counter or drive-through window where customers order and pick up their food without waiting long

Example

Brandon grabbed fast food from the drive-through on his way home from work.

collocation: grab fast food

Since the family was in a hurry, they stopped at a fast-food place for a quick dinner.

compound modifier: fast-food place

Common collocations
  • grab fast food
  • eat fast food
  • a fast-food restaurant
  • a fast-food chain
  • fast-food industry
Synonyms
  • takeaway

    British term for food bought from a restaurant to eat elsewhere; may not be served quickly

  • junk food

    emphasises low nutritional value more than speed of service

Antonyms
  • home-cooked meal

    food prepared at home rather than bought ready-made

  • slow food

    food prepared with care and traditional methods, the opposite of fast food in philosophy

Usage Note

Uncountable — 'a fast food' is non-standard; say 'some fast food' or 'a fast-food meal'.

Common Mistakes

I ordered a fast food.
I ordered some fast food.
fast food is an uncountable noun and cannot take the article 'a'.

fast-food — adjective

Word family

  • fast-food restaurant
    nounA2
  • fast-food chain
    nounB1
  • fast-food industry
    nounB2
  • fast-food outlet
    nounB2
  • fast-food worker
    nounB1
  • fast-food meal
    nounA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These three terms overlap with 'fast food' but differ in emphasis. 'Takeaway' (or 'takeout' in American English) refers to any food bought from a restaurant to be eaten elsewhere — it can be high-quality, like a gourmet pizza, and is not defined by speed. 'Junk food' focuses on nutritional value rather than preparation time: a bag of potato chips is junk food but not usually considered fast food. 'Convenience food' (or 'ready meals') describes pre-packaged supermarket items that need reheating, not counter-service restaurant food. Example: 'I ordered a takeaway from the Thai place' (could be high-quality, not fast food). 'She tries to cut down on junk food like crisps and sweets' (nutrition-based, not service-speed-based). 'Fast food' specifically combines speed of service, counter ordering, and a standardised menu.

takeaway ↗junk foodconvenience food

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • fast-food restaurant
  • fast-food chain
  • fast-food industry
  • fast-food outlet
  • fast-food meal

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The term 'fast food' dates back to the early 20th century, combining 'fast' (from Old English 'fæst', originally meaning 'firmly fixed', later shifting to 'quick') with 'food' (from Old English 'fōda'). The compound became widely used in the 1950s with the rise of American chain restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King, which standardised the model of counter-service, pre-prepared meals. The figurative use — describing anything made quickly without quality — emerged in the late 20th century.