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If I could be doing anything, I'd be laying on the floor in my birthday suit eating junk food and watching something dumb on TV.
Anita Baker

Meaning of "junk food" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF JUNK FOOD

junk food play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF JUNK FOOD

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Junk food is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES JUNK FOOD MEAN IN ENGLISH?

junk food

Junk food

Junk food is a derisive slang term for food that is of little nutritional value and often high in fat, sugar, salt, and calories. It is widely believed that the term was coined by Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, in 1972. Junk foods typically contain high levels of calories from sugar or fat with little protein, vitamins or minerals. Foods commonly considered junk foods include salted snack foods, gum, candy, sweet desserts, fried fast food, and sugary carbonated beverages. Many foods such as hamburgers, pizza, and tacos can be considered either healthy or junk food depending on their ingredients and preparation methods. The more highly processed items usually fall under the junk food category. What is and is not junk food can also depend on the person's class and social status, with wealthier people tending to have a broader definition while lower-income consumers may see fewer foods as junk food, especially certain ethnic foods. Despite being labeled as "junk," consuming such foods usually does not pose any immediate health concerns and is generally safe when integrated into a well balanced diet.

Definition of junk food in the English dictionary

The definition of junk food in the dictionary is food that is low in nutritional value, often highly processed or ready-prepared, and eaten instead of or in addition to well-balanced meals.

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE JUNK FOOD

junk
junk art
junk bond
junk dealer
junk DNA
junk heap
junk mail
junk market
junk room
junk shop
junk shot
junkanoo
Junker
Junkerdom
Junkerism
Junkers
junket
junketeer
junketer
junketing

WORDS THAT END LIKE JUNK FOOD

baby food
bar food
cat food
comfort food
convenience food
diet food
dog food
fast food
finger food
food
frozen food
fusion food
genetically modified food
health food
party food
pet food
pub food
rabbit food
skin food
slow food
soul food

Synonyms and antonyms of junk food in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «junk food» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF JUNK FOOD

Find out the translation of junk food to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of junk food from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «junk food» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

垃圾食品
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

comida basura
570 millions of speakers

English

junk food
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

जंक फूड
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

الوجبات السريعة
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

вредная еда
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

comida pronta de baixo valor nutritivo
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

জাঙ্ক ফুড
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

malbouffe
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

makanan ringan
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Junkfood
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

ジャンクフード
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

불량 식품
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Junk food
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

đồ ăn vặt
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

குப்பை உணவு
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

जंक फूड
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

abur cubur
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

porcherie
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

śmieciowe jedzenie
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

шкідлива їжа
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

junk food
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

πρόχειρο φαγητό
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

gemorskos
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

skräpmat
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

junk food
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of junk food

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «JUNK FOOD»

The term «junk food» is quite widely used and occupies the 31.497 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
86
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «junk food» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of junk food
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «junk food».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «JUNK FOOD» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «junk food» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «junk food» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about junk food

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «JUNK FOOD»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word junk food.
1
Diane Abbott
Families are struggling against a tide of junk information on junk food.
2
Robert Atkins
Nobody had ever told me junk food was bad for me. Four years of medical school, and four years of internship and residency, and I never thought anything was wrong with eating sweet rolls and doughnuts, and potatoes, and bread, and sweets.
3
Robert Atkins
Everyone would be healthier if they didn't eat junk food.
4
Anita Baker
If I could be doing anything, I'd be laying on the floor in my birthday suit eating junk food and watching something dumb on TV.
5
Tyra Banks
I love all kinds of bread. Whenever I crave junk food, I want salty things like peanuts or potato chips.
6
Joe Bastianich
If you eliminate the junk food, you don't really run the risk of gaining weight if you've got a good workout routine.
7
Victoria Beckham
I'm a very, very healthy eater. I eat lots of fish, lots of vegetables, lots of fruit. I don't eat junk food.
8
Alison Brie
I'm really not a TV junkie... OK, I kind of am a TV junkie, but I'm much more of a movie junkie - my junk food is romantic comedies I've seen a million times.
9
Homaro Cantu
You know, I want to eat junk food. My kids love junk food.
10
Cara Castronuova
I know that when I get stressed, I want to eat junk food. So now I just know - 'I'm stressed, I want to eat junk food, so I'm going to go work out instead, or eat something healthy.' It really works.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «JUNK FOOD»

Discover the use of junk food in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to junk food and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food
Essays cover the history of junk foods and convenience foods, along with information on health, diet, and current controversies surrounding the consumption of this type of food.
Andrew F. Smith, 2006
2
Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat
This fascinating and revealing work examines the incredible power of junk food and fast food—how nostalgic we are about them, the influence of the companies that manufacture or sell them, and their alarming affect on our country's state ...
Andrew F. Smith, 2012
3
Unjunk Your Junk Food: Healthy Alternatives to Conventional ...
Unjunk Your Junk Food is a quick and easy guide to: • Healthy choices for the snacks you crave • Savvy alternatives to conventional brands • Tips for reading food labels and recognizing false claims • Nutritious ingredients to look ...
Andrea Donsky, Randy Boyer, Lisa Tsakos, 2011
4
Vegan Junk Food: 225 Sinful Snacks that are Good for the Soul
Vegan Junk Food provides 225 delicious recipes like: Barbecue "Chicken" Pizza; Chocolate Raspberry Muffins; Vegan Whoopie Pies; Hawaiian Rum Cake; "Bacon" Wrapped Water Chestnuts; and Jalapeno Poppers.
Lane Gold, 2011
5
Junk Food
Junk food is so delicious.
Vicki Cobb, 2006
6
The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food
"A most enjoyable introduction to good nutrition and exercise."--(starred) Science Books & Films. From the Trade Paperback edition.
Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain, 2010
7
Born With a Junk Food Deficiency: How Flaks, Quacks, and ...
If you’re concerned about the safety of the drugs you take and the food you eat, you owe it to yourself to read this important book.
Martha Rosenberg, 2012
8
My Life as Crocodile Junk Food
After all, we are talking about Wally-If-Anything-Can-Go-Wrong-It-Will McDoogle. My Life as Crocodile Junk Food keeps readers laughing as Wally stumbles into a whole new set of impossible (and man-eating) predicaments . . .
Bill Myers, 1993
9
The World is Not for Sale: Farmers Against Junk Food
Recounts the dramatic events of their famous demonstration against McDonald's and examines the issues behind the resulting campaign.
‎2002
10
The Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook: More Than 100 Healthy ...
An introduction explaining the importance of eating healthy and promoting a healthy lifestyle and two full-color photographic inserts complement the text. Each chapter includes a sidebar with nutritional and cooking tips.
Laura Trice, 2010

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «JUNK FOOD»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term junk food is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Investigation reveals how patients are enticed to buy junk food at …
An investigation by the Sunday People found cafes and shops offering junk food to patients, visitors and staff at every hospital we checked out. «Mirror.co.uk, Jul 15»
2
Why I have backed down on a junk food ban | Stuff.co.nz
I do agree with George about calling a spade a spade when it comes to junk food. He says his son knows that it is "bad" in McDonalds and I too ... «Stuff.co.nz, Jul 15»
3
Supermarkets should charge extra for junk food and sugary drinks to …
Supermarkets struggling to pay staff the new 'living wage' should raise the extra cash by charging more for junk food and sugary drinks, the ... «The Independent, Jul 15»
4
Woman who only ate junk food for 20 years finally turns healthy …
Natasha Semedo had forked out almost £40,000 on junk food in the last two decades after suffering from Selective Eating Disorder (SED) since ... «Mirror.co.uk, Jul 15»
5
Junk Food Cravings Make Feast For Investors - Benzinga
Junk Food Cravings Make Feast For Investors ... But many junk-food vendors have appeared to succeed by not forgetting their roots. Posted-In: ... «Benzinga, Jul 15»
6
The junk food deal: How the Middle East will crumble | TheHill
The junk food deal: How the Middle East will crumble. By Blake Fleisher. After 10 pounds of Twizzlers, 20 pounds of string cheese, 30 pounds ... «The Hill, Jul 15»
7
Junk Food Makeover: Chocolate Chip Brownies - Yahoo
This week's junk food makeover is beaming with healthy ingredients that both your body and palate will love. Our favorite highlight ingredient ... «Yahoo News, Jul 15»
8
Rhody Roundup: Junk food | WPRI 12 Eyewitness News - WPRI.com
Britney Spears looked great at the ESPY's but she still loves junk food. What's always on your grocery list for snacks? A recent survey shows ... «WPRI 12 Eyewitness News, Jul 15»
9
Girl hooked on junk food for 20 years CURED by hypnotist - Daily Star
Girl hooked on junk food for 20 years CURED by hypnotist. A HAIRDRESSER who has been hooked on takeaways all her life has been cured ... «Daily Star, Jul 15»
10
Why I have backed down on a junk food ban - Daily Life
I do agree with George about calling a spade a spade when it comes to junk food. He says his son knows that it is "bad" in McDonalds and I too ... «Daily Life, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Junk food [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/junk-food>. Apr 2024 ».
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