big brother

noun

1
: an older brother
2
: a man who serves as a companion, father figure, and role model for a boy
3
Big Brother [Big Brother, personification of the power of the state in 1984 (1949) by George Orwell]
a
: the leader of an authoritarian state or movement
b
: an all-powerful government or organization monitoring and directing people's actions

Examples of big brother in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More Entertainment: Jason Momoa, Roman Reigns, and More In Talks for 'Street Fighter' Culkin began his acting career as a child, making his screen debut in 'Home Alone' alongside big brother Macaulay Culkin. Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 That has forced it into the arms of its new big brother, China. Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 One way to consider it: Think of Earth as a little sister with a big brother, Jupiter, who’s 2 or 3 years older. Lucas Brefka, The Conversation, 19 May 2025 Elsewhere in the conversation with Hirsch, Duhamel shared how his older son is adjusting to his role as a big brother. Kayla Grant, People.com, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for big brother

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of big brother was in 1809

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Big brother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20brother. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on big brother

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!