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
• 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

The Louisville location has since moved further down the street, and a few months ago, owner and chef Toki Masabuchi opened a new concept in the old space at 1126 Bardstown Road. —Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2025

Other menu offerings include red and green onigiri, a daily chef’s nigiri selection, and vegan and vegetarian options. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025

All of these continue to serve her well as a chef, mentor, and home cook. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025

Seasonal dining menus incorporate local ingredients and organic produce and herbs from the chef’s garden. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 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