big-ticket

adjective

big-tick·​et ˈbig-ˈti-kət 

1

: having a high price

the car was a big-ticket item

2

: having great importance or prominence : major

The founders had hoped to address three big-ticket issues: the environment, nuclear weapons, and Middle East peace.

—David Corn

Synonyms of big-ticket

• expensive
• valuable
• costly
• premium

Examples of big-ticket in a Sentence

with the tough economy, fewer people are likely to be making big-ticket purchases

Recent Examples on the Web

Masterminded by nonprofit organization War Child and produced by Brian Eno, the album brought together a motley group of big-ticket artists—Radiohead, the Chemical Brothers, the Stone Roses, Paul McCartney—and raised over a million pounds for children caught in the Bosnian war. —Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026

Netflix’s next big-ticket European original is Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, the Nordic noir based on author Nesbø’s novel series. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026

Other big-ticket items could return in a future regular session. —Jeffrey S. Solochek, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026

Progress on big-ticket issues — stadium, a new training ground — continues, but at a glacial pace (at least outwardly). —Chris Waugh, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for big-ticket

• chicot
• cricket
• picket
• picot
• thicket
• ticket
• wicket