chef

noun

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 noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Just as a chef hones a knife daily to keep it prime—rather than waiting for it to dull and require the destructive act of sharpening—organizations can hone their approach to AI in ways that are less risky, more resilient, and ultimately faster and more effective than transformation. Dave Smith, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025 In addition to Bugonia, which stars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, he was cast in A24’s Tony, a film about the late chef, author and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain, and wrote and produced the 2024 indie comedy film, Let’s Start A Cult. Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2025 Settle into lie-flat leather seating, savor gourmet meals prepared by a private chef, and enjoy a selection of fine wines and spirits. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2025 The chef, from Austin, had traveled to Huntsville with his mom to help his sister move into her new apartment, WAAY and NBC affiliate WAFF reported. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chef

Word History

Etymology

French, short for chef de cuisine head of the kitchen

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chef was in 1826

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chef. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

chef

noun
1
: a chief cook
2

More from Merriam-Webster on chef

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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