big name

¹

noun

1. a person who has a preeminent public reputation in a specified field.

   He's a big name in education.

big-name

²

[big-neym]

adjective

1. having a widespread public reputation as a leader in a specified field; famous.

   a big-name doctor; a big-name actress.

2. of, relating to, or composed of a big-name person or persons.

big name

noun

1. informal

   1. a famous person

   2. ( as modifier )

      a big-name performer

Word History and Origins

Origin of big name¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Origin of big name²

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Example Sentences

It often is wielded as a kind of roving “gotcha” narrative, in which we the public are encouraged to wait with bated breath for the drip-drip-drip revelation of the next big name to be outed as having been connected to Epstein and the one after that—Elon Musk!

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"The bigger commercial stores will always have the new releases and the big name albums that everybody knows and loves," he said.

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Big name contributors include historian Niall Ferguson and economist Tyler Cowen.

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The festival would attract big name performers and raise the profile of Leeds both nationally and internationally, the council previously said, as well as "delivering an important boost to the local economy".

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The festival would attract big name performers and raise the profile of Leeds both nationally and internationally, as well as "delivering an important boost to the local economy", Lewis said.

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