chef's knife

American  

[shefs nahyf] / ˈʃɛfs ˌnaɪf /

Also chef knife

noun

1. a multipurpose kitchen knife with a wide blade usually 8 to 10 inches long and tapering to a point, used for slicing, chopping, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of chef's knife

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Hand-wash a chef’s knife or a nonstick pan, and you can dry it for storage without grabbing a towel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

With a sharp carving or chef’s knife, create a flap by slicing between the meat and the bones, staying as close to the bones as possible and stopping just before they’re separated from the roast.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 25, 2023

The half-acre lot, in the shape of a chef’s knife, was carved out of a large affordable housing project because it was too close to the freeway to qualify for tax-credit financing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2023

You should have a very very very sharp, large chef's knife for proper, efficient herb chopping without any sort of bruising, but knives are a conversation for another.

From Salon • Jul. 18, 2023

He winks at me, taking his oven mitts off, and I watch as he confidently twirls his chef’s knife, deftly slicing the pie into eight even pieces with a flourish.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott