junk food

noun
1.
food, as potato chips or candy, that is high in calories but of little nutritional value.
2.
anything that is attractive and diverting but of negligible substance:
the junk food offered by daytime television.
Origin
1970-75, Americanism
Related forms
junk-food, adjective
Examples from the web for junk food
  • Not that it has to be junk food to inspire play, of course.
  • Most must resort to an iron self-discipline bolstered by a hefty dose of superiority over those who eat junk food.
  • The diets of many people in developed countries are too high in the fats, salt, and refined sugars found in junk food.
  • But they persevered, and the result is gourmet junk food.
  • The overly-stigmatized ritual is only problematic when junk food boxes and bags are emptied in a matter of hours, not days.
  • It's easy to stereotype obesity as an affliction of the poor, since low-end junk food is so aggressively marketed.
  • Discover the tips and tricks for buying cheap while avoiding a junk food-only diet.
  • With ethanol at the pump and junk food and soda pop on the shelves, our gas station convenience stores are modern corn palaces.
  • Henry was emaciated and malnourished, having subsisted largely on soda and junk food pushed through the bars of his cage.
  • Chances are, this junk food option will cause some strong opinions.
British Dictionary definitions for junk food

junk food

noun
1.
food that is low in nutritional value, often highly processed or ready-prepared, and eaten instead of or in addition to well-balanced meals
junk food in Medicine

junk food n.
Any of various prepackaged snack foods high in calories but low in nutritional value.

Slang definitions & phrases for junk food

junk food

noun phrase

Foods like potato chips, popcorn, sugar-coated cereals, and the like, esp popular with children and having little nutritional value (1970s+)


Idioms and Phrases with junk food

junk food

Prepackaged snack food that is high in calories but low in nutritional value; also, anything attractive but negligible in value. For example, Nell loves potato chips and other junk food, or When I'm sick in bed I often resort to TV soap operas and similar junk food. [ c. 1970 ]