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

Meals are prepared in-house and feature seasonal Alaska ingredients, such as Copper River king salmon and low-bush cranberries that the chef team foraged. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026

At 77, chef Li Quan Chen couldn’t seem to settle into retirement. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Wu said his brother Vincent is the chef and will incorporate Mexican and Asian fusion dishes to the dinner menu. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Bicicletta This relatively new Peachtree City restaurant from chef Andrea Montobbio focuses on a more casual vibe than his original restaurant, Enzo Steakhouse & Bar, with a menu of pizza and handmade pastas. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 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