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

• cook
• cooker
• culinarian

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

Bruce Moffett, chef and founder of Moffett Restaurant Group, is adding another concept to his portfolio, a neighborhood wine and cocktail bar called Sala — Italian for lounge — where guests will be transported back into another time when intimate spaces were created for connection and celebration. —Olivia Lee, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2025

Pastry chef and instructor Jean-Baptiste Lucas prefers heavy-duty nonstick pans. —Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2025

Each dish is made-to-order by award-winning chef Truman Du, highlighting the best of various regions, while incorporating modern techniques and high-quality ingredients sourced from Northern California. —Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

Helmed by chef Francis Mallman, the restaurant offers dishes produced over an open flame, which pair well with biodynamic wines by SuperUco, a winery founded by the Michelini brothers. —Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2025

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