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

Where to Eat and Drink Primo For fantastic farm-to-table fare, Christie highly recommends Primo, helmed by two-time James Beard Award-winning chef Melissa Kelly. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2026

Devised by Siem Reap native and executive sous chef Dorn Doeurt alongside executive chef Memo Hernandez, the four tasting menus celebrate the 1930s, ’50s, ’60s, and ’90s. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 July 2026

Ramsay is one of three chefs being profiled alongside Marco Pierre White and Heston Blumenthal. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 21 July 2026

After a welcome presentation and cocktail party—Kir Royales in hand—slip into Moments, the onboard restaurant by German Michelin‑starred chef David Görne, whose cooking has held a red star since 2016 and a Green Star for sustainability since 2020. — Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 21 July 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