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

Unfailingly, the advice from both locals and fellow travelers insisted on reservations at chef Frank Stitt and his wife Pardis's restaurants, foundational not just in the course of Birmingham's food history but the country's. — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

What’s Happening Home cooks and professional chefs are increasingly reaching for beef tallow in place of butter, vegetable oil and shortening. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026

The dishes are designed by Id Est founder Kelly Whitaker and fellow Wolf’s Tailor chef Taylor Stark. — The Know, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026

Dinner at Creola is a set-menu affair, a half-dozen courses developed and cooked by the chef-owner, Lana Lagomarsini. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 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