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

Continue reading … — Vance declares Democrats ‘party of hatred,’ says party has moved beyond big government. — FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026

The moves are part of a larger populist movement in the GOP where fears about big government extend to skepticism over corporate giants, especially pharmaceutical companies, health insurers, and hospital systems. — Daniel Payne, STAT, 8 Sep. 2026

Financial markets have come under growing strain as Treasury yields charged higher through the summer on worries about inflation, big government debts and other factors. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

But now there's a new threat from the populist right that would embrace policies of isolationism abroad, that would embrace big government and protectionism at home, marginalize the right to life. — CBS News, 31 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for big government

• antigovernment