chef

American  

[shef] / ʃɛf /

noun

1. the chief cook, especially in a restaurant or hotel, usually responsible for planning menus, ordering foodstuffs, overseeing food preparation, and supervising the kitchen staff.

2. any cook.

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chef British  

/ ʃɛf /

noun

1. a cook, esp the principal cook in a restaurant

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Etymology

Origin of chef

From French, dating back to 1835–45; see origin at chief

Explanation

Someone whose job is cooking food and planning menus at a restaurant is a chef. Many chefs graduate from cooking school, while others learn cooking techniques by observing and working with experienced chefs.. The word chef often specifies someone who cooks fancy or expensive food — in contrast, you might call a man who fries burgers at a fast food place or a woman who makes grilled cheese sandwiches at a diner simply cooks. The chef is generally at the top of the food chain in a restaurant kitchen, the boss of the other workers. Chef is French, short for chef de cuisine, or "head of the kitchen."

Example Sentences

The now-defunct restaurant chain Burger Chef is credited with the invention of the kids’ meal.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

David Standridge, chef at The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic, Connecticut – a 2026 James Beard finalist for Outstanding Chef of the Year – is one of them.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

May the spirit of Chef Mickey be with him.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Damian – From Chef Enrique Olvera of Pujol, Damian was a meal I went into with high expectations—and it delivered.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

‘And remember to come by the mess hall tonight, folks, ’cause Chef Leo is making his famous three-alarm tofu tacos!’

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan