big league

¹ American

[big leeg] / ˈbɪg ˈlig /

noun

Sports. a major league, as in baseball.

His debut in the big leagues was as a relief pitcher for the Dodgers in the final game of the regular season.
Informal. the area of greatest competition, highest achievement or rewards, etc..

He's a local politician who isn't ready for the big league.

big-league ² American

[big-leeg] / ˈbɪgˈlig /

adjective

Sports. of or belonging to a major league.

a big-league pitcher.
Informal. among the largest, foremost, etc., of its kind.

the big-league steel companies.

big league Idioms

An area of tough competition and high rewards; the largest or foremost of its kind. For example, Winning an Oscar put this unknown actress in the big league. The term alludes to the major (big) leagues of American baseball. [Late 1800s] Also see big time, def. 2.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of big league¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Origin of big-league²

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; adjective use of big league

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

big league big-league

“Triple-A pitching is not comparative to big league pitching, I think we all know that,” Roberts said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026

“If you don’t think I’m good enough, you lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club,” Bauer wrote.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026

He threw to big league hitters just one more time.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026

William Blair analyst Neal Dingmann thinks the acquisition price represents a “compelling valuation for a big league company.”

From Barron's ● Feb. 2, 2026

Berg had been a mediocre ballplayer at best, hitting .243 over fifteen big league seasons as a backup catcher.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

It was the first time — and nearly the last — that Lesch faced big-league hitters.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026

This year Ferris could be knocking on the door of a big-league promotion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2026

Sasaki emerged as a viable high-leverage relief option out of Dave Roberts’ bullpen upon his return to the club’s big-league roster in late September.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 25, 2026

So your giftee is a gourmand, a big-league griller, a hot-sauce head.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

Like a fast ball hurled by a big-league pitcher, the arrow could be caught in the hand, but would knock for a loop anyone it hit in the head.

From The Pirates of Shan by Goodwin, Harold L. (Harold Leland)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023