chef

noun

ˈshef 

plural chefs

1

: a skilled professional cook

a trained chef

specifically : one who is in charge of a professional kitchen

I wrote to the chef of an acclaimed New American restaurant on the Upper East Side about my food experiences. He invited me to spend a few days in the kitchen on a trial basis.

—Adam Shatz

2

: cook

chef intransitive verb

chefdom

ˈshef-dəm 

noun

Synonyms of chef

• cook
• baker

Examples of chef in a Sentence

The hotel's chef trained at the finest culinary institutes in Europe.

He's the head chef at a five-star restaurant.

a celebrity chef with her own TV show

My friend is an excellent chef.

Recent Examples on the Web

This week’s food events include Grant Park’s Summer Shade Festival, a matcha pop-up at Bella Cucina and a special dinner series in Madison featuring Atlanta chefs. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026

The pastry chef deserves a special shout-out, too, not least for the doorstop wedge of baklava in Kafeneo. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026

They’re all made in-house, as her grandmother and mother, Inae Park, and the chef did herself at home. — Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Schulte shared his recommendations for On the Menu, a series that features chefs, bartenders and other industry professionals sharing their most beloved spots in KC to eat and imbibe. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, short for chef de cuisine head of the kitchen

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chef

• chef de cuisine
• chef d'oeuvre
• chef's kiss
• chef's knife
• chef's salad
• executive chef
• sous-chef

Rhymes for chef

• clef
• deaf
• ref

Kids Definition

chef

noun

ˈshef 

1

: a chief cook

2

: cook entry 1