big band

noun

: a band that is larger than a combo and that usually features a mixture of ensemble playing and solo improvisation typical of jazz or swing

Examples of big band 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.
Champagne towers glittered, and a 14-piece big band brought the Jazz Age back to life. Lisa A. Beach, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026 The new album is really all about that feel-good, big band-era vibe. Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026 In the background, big band music plays. Kate Perez, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025 El Gran Combo’s big band format would become a template for many subsequent big salsa bands, and so would to Ithier’s military precision, emulated by bands like Colombia’s Grupo Niche. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 8 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for big band

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of big band was in 1917

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Cite this Entry

“Big band.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20band. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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