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

There’s no fixed lunch or dinner menu; the chef builds each day’s offerings around what’s freshest and in season. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026

This recipe is adapted from one by chef Bryan Gilmore of the Creole Creamery in New Orleans, and provides essential tips for frying these doughnuts to a perfect golden hue. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026

The Tribune gave The Eccentric 2 out of 4 stars for chef Michael Kornick’s cuisine. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026

The mix, born out of Barrymore’s friendship with chef and Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi, is preservative- and nut-free. —Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Feb. 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