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

Fox News Digital reached out to chefs in New Orleans for some dishes that are sure to score a touchdown at Super Bowl parties this year. —Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 2 Feb. 2025

Alex Stupak, chef of The Otter, designed a three-course meal complemented by Challahs and Rugelach and courtesy of Breads Bakery. —Sammi Tapper, Vogue, 2 Feb. 2025

Overlooking one of the uninhabited island’s most attractive beaches, the camp features cozy tents, an on-site chef, and drinks under the stars. —Meagan Drillinger, AFAR Media, 31 Jan. 2025

The head chef, rather than M, met with the laundry service and handed over a check, which successfully cleared. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 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

Kids Definition

chef

noun

ˈshef 

1

: a chief cook

2

: cook entry 1