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.
But there is another place that Travis Kelce wants his big brother to try. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025 The Rhône Valley is one of France’s finest winemaking regions, but it is often overshadowed by its big brothers, Burgundy and Bordeaux. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025 Manny being Manny would become easier, what with Pujols, 45, serving as a big brother across an annual journey that spans up to nine full months. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025 Don’t say uncle, my mother laughed, say big brother. Literary Hub, 20 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 29 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!