name
Bigfoot
BIHG-fuut
Bigfoot (name) means a legendary large, hairy, ape-like creature said to roam the forests of North America, especially the Pacific Northwest. Example: “The campers swore they saw Bigfoot crossing the trail at dusk.”
name
1
A legendary large, hairy, ape-like creature said to roam the forests of North America, especially the Pacific Northwest.
"The Bigfoot of spiders has been discovered in the caves of southwestern Oregon."
— Sindya N. Bhanoo, Cave Enthusiasts Find an 8-Legged Outlier (2012)
"Then there are the sharp divisions of opinion about whether Bigfoot is a Gigantopithecus or a Neanderthal or some other hominid."
— Bryan Sykes, The Guru (2016)
"The campers swore they saw Bigfoot crossing the trail at dusk."
"Many enthusiasts believe that Bigfoot is not some sort of undiscovered hominid, but rather a mystical being that moves between dimensions."
— Christopher D. Bader, Bigfoot: Undiscovered Primate or Interdimensional Spirit? (2019)
verb
1
Informal, meaning to forcefully take over or dominate a situation using one's authority.
"The senior editor bigfooted the story and pushed the junior reporter aside."
How to use Bigfoot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMainly the folklore creature, but also a verb meaning to muscle in and take charge over someone with less authority.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Bigfeet, Bigfoots
- Third person singular
- bigfoots
- Past tense
- bigfooted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The campers swore they saw _____ crossing the trail at dusk.
Etymology
Coined in 1958 from "big" plus "foot," referring to the unusually large footprints attributed to the creature.
Class of 1958
Bigfoot joined the language around 1958.
See the full Class of 1958 →
Rhymes for Bigfoot
See all rhymes for Bigfoot →Frequently asked questions
What does “Bigfoot” mean?
The word “Bigfoot” means a legendary large, hairy, ape-like creature said to roam the forests of North America, especially the Pacific Northwest. In plain terms, mainly the folklore creature, but also a verb meaning to muscle in and take charge over someone with less authority.
How do you pronounce “Bigfoot”?
“Bigfoot” is pronounced BIHG-fuut (/ˈbɪɡˌfʊt/ in IPA).
How do you use “Bigfoot” in a sentence?
Here is “Bigfoot” used in a sentence: “The campers swore they saw Bigfoot crossing the trail at dusk.”
What part of speech is “Bigfoot”?
Depending on how it is used, “Bigfoot” can be a name and a verb.
Where does the word “Bigfoot” come from?
The word “Bigfoot” dates back to around 1958. Coined in 1958 from "big" plus "foot," referring to the unusually large footprints attributed to the creature.
How many meanings does “Bigfoot” have?
“Bigfoot” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a legendary large, hairy, ape-like creature said to roam the forests of North America, especially the Pacific Northwest.
