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

Same is true, probably, for Princely’s big brother, Prince. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2025

Is Nate’s position as a potential future NBA lottery pick with his long, lean frame, smooth jumper and tremendous upside all due to … his big brother? —Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

John Korir has followed in the footsteps of his big brother by winning the Boston Marathon! —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025

And when the scale of the crisis exceeds their capacity, the federal government steps in — like a big brother with deep pockets and national muscle. —Kelly McKinney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for big brother

• another
• godmother
• grandmother
• stepbrother
• stepmother
• mother
• nother
• other
• smother
• souther