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

The event, held in partnership with Smith, will be open to the public and staff, chefs and owners from participating restaurants are all invited to compete. —Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026

Laugarás Lagoon, just beyond the Golden Circle, pairs serene hot pools with a hyper-seasonal menu by chef Gísli Matt. —Rick Jordan, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026

The evening features top Bay Area chefs competing to create a multi-course meal using ingredients found in the WVCS pantry, where clients receive food. —Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026

Opened in 1977 by Robert Blazer, Your DeKalb Farmers Market is a favorite among Georgia chefs and families alike. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 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