noun
bigwig
BIHG-wihg
Bigwig (noun) means an important or influential person within an organization. Example: “A few company bigwigs flew in for the announcement.”
noun
1
An important or influential person within an organization.
"The company bigwig is gathering his staff together for a meeting today."
"Before her hay-day, she attended many derbys under her dad's celebrity where she'd hobnob with the bigwigs in Millionaire's Row."
— , Reality star Bethenny Frankel talks hats, hangovers and her Kentucky Derby party at Empire City Casino (2016)
"A few company bigwigs flew in for the announcement."
"She was too intimidated to speak up in front of all the bigwigs."
How to use bigwig
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA powerful or high-ranking person, usually said a little mockingly.
When to use it
Informal and slightly humorous — not used in formal writing.
Common pairings
corporate bigwigs
political bigwigs
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Word forms
- Plural
- bigwigs
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A few company _____ flew in for the announcement.
Etymology
Coined in the 1730s from big + wig, playing on the fact that important English men of the era wore large, elaborate wigs as a sign of status.
Class of 1730
bigwig joined the language around 1730.
See the full Class of 1730 →
Synonyms
View more →
kingpin
top banana
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “bigwig” mean?
The word “bigwig” means an important or influential person within an organization. In plain terms, a powerful or high-ranking person, usually said a little mockingly.
How do you pronounce “bigwig”?
“Bigwig” is pronounced BIHG-wihg (/ˈbɪɡ.wɪɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bigwig” in a sentence?
Here is “bigwig” used in a sentence: “A few company bigwigs flew in for the announcement.”
What part of speech is “bigwig”?
“Bigwig” is a noun.
Where does the word “bigwig” come from?
The word “bigwig” dates back to around 1730. Coined in the 1730s from big + wig, playing on the fact that important English men of the era wore large, elaborate wigs as a sign of status.
