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

Looking a bit unsure of herself, the Princess of Wales kneaded the dough, applied a filling and cut out the pasta shapes as Ivan Lampredi, a chef, assisted her.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

“Ramps, obviously, are very special because for us here in the Northeast, it’s the first sign of spring,” said Delfin Jaranilla, the executive chef and co-partner of Leland Eating and Drinking House.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

As Diggs’ private chef, she lived in his home and prepared him meals and snacks, she said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

Meanwhile, Michelin-starred Southport chef Wareing, 55, began his career as a teenager working at the Savoy in London, before going on to establish several successful restaurants.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

I was pretty much my mom’s sous chef growing up, which is just a fancy way of saying I was her kitchen assistant.

From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds