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

Joseph Duggar’s big brother Josh Duggar is already serving time on his 2021 conviction for downloading child pornography. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026

There are stories of a knife-wielding, bride-killing monster lurking in the woods, which Nicky’s big brother (Jeff Wilbusch’s icy Jules) may or may not have encountered as a child. —Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026

The group said Denali was a little shaky at first but quickly found her footing, nursing before going over to meet her big brother Diane. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026

That means this new little one already has two big brothers waiting for him. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026

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