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

The story is dead in a couple days, you lose $0, and there’s no risk to the big league club.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026

Then the new guy, Ryan Ward, made the final out in his big league debut, robbed of a hit and a chance to keep chipping away by a diving Troy Johnston in right field.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 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

Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 62, San Gabriel Academy 60: Michael Noel had 19 points for the big league win.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2026

So Langston is our big league rival, and even though they have everything our team would love to have, we have the one thing a team can’t buy.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

She was also the first woman to serve as a big-league general manager, leading the Miami Marlins from 2020 through the 2023 season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

Oh, and if Cervantes ever gets to make that dream big-league appearance one day, he made it clear: He’d do everything he could to share the experience with Jerry.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

After all, he earned a shot with the big-league club after hitting .343 with 34 hits and 13 RBI through 27 games with Rocket City.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

And, though Ballard fought hard in the last of the eighth, Ichabod displayed big-league speed, and retired two hitters by the strike-out route, while the third popped out to first.

From T. Haviland Hicks Senior by Elderdice, J. Raymond

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