bigwig

noun

big·​wig ˈbig-ˌwig How to pronounce bigwig (audio)
: an important person

Examples of bigwig in a Sentence

a bigwig in local politics interviewed by several bigwigs on the hospital's staff
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.
The largest is the Ratliff family, North Carolina blue bloods led by Timothy (Jason Isaacs), a business bigwig with no interest in any of the resort’s spiritual healing exercises. Noel Murray, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025 Here’s a look at the rock stars, politicians and business bigwigs who are neighbors of the 45th—and 47th—president. Chase Peterson-Withorn, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025 He’s also accidentally stolen a giant gemstone owned by a Sicilian Mafia bigwig, however, and needs to retrieve it from his liason’s safety deposit box in the building’s vault or else. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025 Of course, then, life later imitated art with tech bigwigs trying to use something similar to Johansson‘s voice to equip an LLM. John Werner, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bigwig

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bigwig was in 1703

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Cite this Entry

“Bigwig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bigwig. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

bigwig

noun
big·​wig ˈbig-ˌwig How to pronounce bigwig (audio)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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