big business: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “big business” mean?
Very large and powerful corporations or industries, especially those seen as having significant economic and political influence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Very large and powerful corporations or industries, especially those seen as having significant economic and political influence.
Any activity or sector that involves a lot of money or is operated by powerful interests; also used informally to describe something that has become a major, profitable enterprise.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and usage are identical. Spelling and grammar conventions follow local norms (e.g., 'big business is' vs. 'big business are' – typically treated as singular in both).
Connotations
Slightly stronger anti-corporate sentiment in UK political discourse; in US, can be more matter-of-fact in business contexts.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “big business” in a Sentence
big business + verb (is, dominates, lobbies)verb + big business (confront, regulate, favour)adjective + big business (corporate, global, powerful)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “big business” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm big-businessed its way into the market. (informal, rare)
American English
- They tried to big-business the local industry. (informal, rare)
adjective
British English
- big-business interests
- a big-business approach
American English
- big-business tactics
- big-business mentality
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussions of market structure, lobbying, and economic policy.
Academic
Political economy, sociology, and critical studies texts analysing corporate power.
Everyday
Casual criticism of powerful companies or describing a lucrative activity (e.g., 'Dog grooming is big business now').
Technical
Less common; more specific terms like 'multinational corporations' or 'oligopolies' are preferred.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “big business”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “big business”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “big business”
- Treating it as a plural noun (e.g., 'Big business are...' – usually singular).
- Confusing with 'big deal'.
- Using it positively in contexts where audience may perceive negative connotations.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while often used critically, it can be neutral when describing economic scale (e.g., 'Tourism is big business here'). Tone and context determine connotation.
Typically, it refers to large corporations as a collective sector or phenomenon. You would usually name a single giant company (e.g., 'a corporate giant like Amazon'), though informally it might be used for one very large firm.
It is generally treated as an uncountable singular noun (e.g., 'Big business is powerful').
'Big business' emphasises scale, power, and economic impact, often from an external perspective (e.g., of critics, regulators). 'Corporate world' is more descriptive of the environment and culture within large companies.
Very large and powerful corporations or industries, especially those seen as having significant economic and political influence.
Big business is usually neutral to formal in register.
Big business: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈbɪznəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈbɪznəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's big business.”
- “a big business operation”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a giant skyscraper with a dollar sign on it – that's 'big business' – huge, powerful, and all about money.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUSINESS IS A POWERFUL ENTITY / MONEY IS SIZE (big = important/powerful).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'big business' used with a primarily NEUTRAL or factual meaning?