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

Two years later, Adler earned the title of big brother when Fishel and Karp's second son, Keaton Joseph, arrived in August 2021. —Sarah Title, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025

Now Hayes joins big brother Krew (6), and sisters Brooklyn (4) and Kamryn (18 months). —Sarah Scott, Parents, 6 Oct. 2025

Weeks earlier, Smith’s big brother, Jaden Smith, was tapped as Christian Louboutin’s first men’s creative director — a reminder that footwear has become a family calling card. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025

Until that point, certain African and Caribbean countries, such as Cuba, had relied on the support of their Communist big brother. —Simon Njami, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for big brother

• another
• godmother
• grandmother
• stepbrother
• stepmother
• mother
• nother
• other
• smother
• souther