big sister
Americannoun
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an elder sister.
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(sometimes initial capital letters) a woman who individually or as a member of an organized group undertakes to sponsor or assist a girl in need of help or guidance.
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(sometimes initial capital letters) a young woman in the junior or senior class in college who advises a young woman in the freshman class on studies, social activities, etc., often as a part of a sorority program.
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.
"She will grow up knowing that she has a big sister," says Lauryn.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
And although the phrase was thrown at Ariana Grande before a screening of “Wicked,” her work as Glinda was big sister at best.
From Salon • May 10, 2026
She has done so without being hounded by her big sister.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026
What she found was that the relationship went beyond business; she sees her agent as part negotiator, part therapist, part big sister.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026
Though she was Maggie and Kate’s niece, Lizzie was about five years older, more like a big sister.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
