big-screen

1 of 2

adjective

ˈbig-ˌskrēn 

1

: relating to movies or to the movie industry

She worked on the novel's big-screen adaptation.

Big-screen villains that resemble America's real-world enemies are as old as the movies themselves.

—Vanity Fair

2

: having a large screen

a big-screen television

And in my experience testing big-screen phones …, it really is far more difficult to do anything on them one-handed, including typing.

—John Gruber

big screen

2 of 2

noun

: the movie medium often as contrasted to television

a story adapted for the big screen

Synonyms of big-screen

Noun

• film
• movie
• filmmaking
• silver screen
• pictures

Examples of big-screen in a Sentence

Noun

many actors now take roles for both television and the big screen

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Yoshi hatches for his big-screen debut in Super Mario Galaxy on April 1, 2026. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2026

The latest trailer for the big-screen sequel reveals the green dinosaur joining the adventure as Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) trek through galaxies to save the day. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026

Noun

Her big screen credits also include Ethan Coen’s Drive-Away Dolls, Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart, Film4’s How To Build A Girl, and Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026

Every meeting between bare skin and river air saps your resolve, but those that resist the comfort of a warm den and a big screen television packed with sporting events are rewarded with some of the year's best fishing. —Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for big-screen

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

Kids Definition

big screen

noun

: the motion-picture medium as contrasted to television