junk food

noun

1

: food that is high in calories but low in nutritional content

2

: something that is appealing or enjoyable but of little or no real value

video junk food

Examples of junk food in a Sentence

worrying about kids eating too much junk food

eating too many junk foods

Recent Examples on the Web

At the same time, the MAHA movement has tapped into growing frustration with a food system that pushes junk food over nutritional value and contributes to rising obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease. —Sam Raus, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026

If helpful, try to plan your meals ahead of time or keep healthy snacks in your dorm room to avoid reaching for junk food during late night studying sessions. —Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026

But when Kennedy implied that exercising and avoiding junk food will save someone from the worst that measles can do, that unfairly places blame on those who do get seriously ill. —Tom Levenson, Time, 20 May 2026

But modern life overstimulates dopamine through our vices such as junk food, phone apps, video games and drugs. —Literary Hub, 13 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for junk food

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

Kids Definition

junk food

noun

: food that is high in calories but low in nutritional value