big rig

noun

plural big rigs
US
: a large truck with an attached trailer that is used for hauling freight : semitrailer sense 2
A father and grandfather, Brubaker worked behind the wheel of a big rig for over a decade before transferring to a supervisory role.Deirdre Reilly
He formerly drove a big rig for a freight company.Jim Kleinpeter

Examples of big rig 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.
The crash involving a big rig and a truck towing a trailer happened on Highway 99 near Lathrop Road. Brandon Downs, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026 One of their primary goals has been to secure a federal requirement for devices in big rigs that prevent them from speeding. Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2025 The fire crew had responded to a traffic accident on the Eastex Freeway and was blocking the entrance to the freeway at Northpark Drive with a Houston Fire Department pumper engine when they were hit by the big rig, authorities said. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 30 Nov. 2025 Big trucks designed for no driver at all Aurora Innovation is working on taking the driver out of the big rig entirely. Camila Domonoske, NPR, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for big rig

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of big rig was in 1946

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Cite this Entry

“Big rig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20rig. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

big rig

noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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