big government

noun

variants or Big Government
chiefly US
: government that is regarded as infringing upon the rights of individual citizens because of its extensive bureaucracy and intrusive regulations and policies
Big government, in the minds of many Americans, had become the problem, not the solution.Tom Morganthau
Especially coming from a Republican, the Hyde proposals smack uncharacteristically of Big Government, critics say.John Cloud

Examples of big government 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.
Even in the age of Ronald Reagan and Thatcher, the idea of a spectrum running from small government on the right to big government on the left was an oversimplification. Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 2 May 2025 In America, rejecting the false promise of big government could do the same. Jon Fleischman, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025 But getting the wheels to turn and keep rolling on big government projects like the FAFSA requires workers with a range of skills. Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025 The credibility of big government contracts helped attract private customers and outside investors: All-told, SpaceX has raised at least $9.5 billion. Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for big government

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of big government was in 1925

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Big government.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20government. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

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!