chef's knife

noun

: a knife used for preparing food

especially : a large, general-purpose kitchen knife usually 8 to 10 inches long that has a blade curving upward along its length and ending in a narrow point

The chef's knife, usually 8 inches long, is … the workhorse of the kitchen. It is used for chopping, slicing, and dicing a variety of foods.

—Consumer Reports

Examples of chef's knife in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This set includes a chef's knife, bread knife, utility knife and paring knife. —Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025

This knife is heavier, longer, and wider than other standard chef's knives, with a hybrid edge shape for versatile tasks. —Molly Higgins, Wired News, 2 May 2025

Still, this is a remarkably affordable option for a Japanese carbon steel chef's knife that excels in making more precise cuts. —Molly Higgins, Wired News, 2 May 2025

Using a sharp chef's knife, slice the watermelon in half. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chef's knife

• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• loosestrife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife
• afterlife

Kids Definition

chef's knife

noun

: a large kitchen knife with a triangular blade