noun
bigwig
BIHG-wihg
noun
1
An important or influential person within an organization.
"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
Word Forms
bigwigs plural
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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.