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
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.
This sleek toy may also appeal to big brothers or sisters wanting to join in on the fun. Pamela Brill, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025 Weeks earlier, Smith’s big brother, Jaden Smith, was tapped as Christian Louboutin’s first men’s creative director — a reminder that footwear has become a family calling card. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025 Until that point, certain African and Caribbean countries, such as Cuba, had relied on the support of their Communist big brother. Simon Njami, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025 In the over 2-hour interview with Kelce and his co-host, big brother Jason, Swift got candid about her latest release, which comes less than two years after her last album, The Tortured Poets Department. Shannon Carlin, Time, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for big brother

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of big brother was in 1809

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Big brother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20brother. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on big brother

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!