big business

American  

noun

1. large business, commercial, and financial firms taken collectively, especially when considered as a group having shared attitudes and goals and exercising control over economic policy, politics, etc.

2. any large organization of a noncommercial nature resembling this.

3. any large business enterprise.

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big business British  

noun

1. large commercial organizations collectively, esp when considered as exploitative or socially harmful

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big business Cultural  

1. Large corporations, as opposed to small individually or family-owned businesses.

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Etymology

Origin of big business

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

big business

But at the time it was seismic stuff, and it symbolised the conversion of football from sport into big business.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

The nutrition supplement market is a big business, with hundreds of brightly coloured recovery drinks and capsules promising reduced soreness and faster recovery.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026

For TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Nolan films are typically big business.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Driven by nostalgia and a desire for authentic style, old threadbare tees have turned into big business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

American universities, already beginning to enjoy the fruits of collaboration with big business, duly put this relationship to work.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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Related Words

• business
• commerce
• corporation
• management
• production
• trade

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