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

From prison kitchens to becoming one of the most celebrated chefs in Los Angeles, two-time James Beard Award nominee is reopening his acclaimed restaurant, Alta Adams. —Luzdelia Caballero, CBS News, 12 June 2026

The long-running series, hosted by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, pits four contestants against each other in a challenge that combines grocery shopping and high-stakes cooking. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 12 June 2026

The festival, held May 22 to 24, was designed to be intimate, giving guests close contact with an impressive lineup of local and international chefs, mixologists and winemakers. —Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Le Petit Chef is a traveling dining experience where guests sit and watch a 3D projection of a tiny chef preparing a multi-course meal at their table. —Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 12 June 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