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Synonyms

big band

American  

noun

  1. a jazz or dance band that is the size of an orchestra.


big band British  

noun

  1. a large jazz or dance band, popular esp in the 1930s to the 1950s

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of big band

First recorded in 1925–30


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:

It’s the big band sound that makes you smile and want to get up and dance with captivating lyrics that always leave you wanting more.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

“The world feels much quieter today without his voice, and I will miss my friend more than words can say. The big band in the sky just got infinitely better with Alex’s arrival.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 3, 2026

The big band music stopped, and for a few seconds a hush fell over the guests.

From Barron's ● Apr. 26, 2026

The spirit of old-school jazz, blues, big band and soul inhabits the record, which stretches out over 71 minutes, as Raye flexes her compositional muscles.

From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2026

“I don’t dig joining some big band, one-nighting all over just to say I played with Count or Duke or somebody.”

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

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