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.
Kevin's wife Bella (Lara Pulver) is meeting her estranged dad, an apparent government bigwig with powerful friends. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025 So all signs seem to be pointing to this tiny demon being at least a bigwig in the halls of Hell, if not the devil himself. Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025 Although the Texas Amateur Hockey Association and Dallas Stars Travel Hockey League are ostensibly independent nonprofit entities, their boards have often been filled with Stars bigwigs. Kenny Jacoby, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025 Join 13 others in the comments View Comments Apart from more details on the reserve, industry bigwigs (who’ve long complained that the Biden administration was strangling crypto) are looking forward to some basic regulatory guidance. Allison Morrow, CNN, 7 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bigwig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bigwig. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

bigwig

noun
big·​wig ˈbig-ˌwig How to pronounce bigwig (audio)
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!