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 White Americans make up 70% of fast-food workers, but 70% of image results depicted workers with darker skin tones. Chris Hyams, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023 But Womack’s starting wage was much less than that — $16.67 — about 1½ times as much as Michigan’s minimum wage and not much more than market wages at local fast-food chains. Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023 The fast-food eatery, located at 184 Euclid Ave, first opened in 2017 as an innovative concept in the fast-casual dining space. Alex Darus, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2023 This week, Lucas Kwan Peterson adds to the soft serve conversation with the contention that the best soft serve is not at the many worthy small businesses selling the frosty treat but at fast-food chains, corporatized cones and all. Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2023 California lawmakers are set to raise the minimum wage for fast-food workers in the state to $20 an hour, far above the state’s overall minimum of $15.50 an hour. oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2023 Give us the low-down but stick to local establishments (no fast-food or chains, please). Peter Chakerian, cleveland, 13 Sep. 2023 Changes proposed to Assembly Bill 1228 would specifically lift wages for workers at fast-food establishments that have at least 60 locations nationwide. CBS News, 13 Sep. 2023 In exchange, labor groups and their allies in the Legislature will agree to the fast-food industry’s demands to remove a provision from the bill that could have made restaurant companies liable for workplace violations committed by their franchisees. BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023 See More

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 1 Oct. 2023.

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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