big lie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Political, Academic, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “big lie” mean?
a grossly distorted or entirely fabricated assertion, presented with conviction, with the aim of deceiving people on a large scale.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a grossly distorted or entirely fabricated assertion, presented with conviction, with the aim of deceiving people on a large scale; often refers to propaganda technique where a falsehood is so colossal that people assume it must contain some truth.
A strategic falsehood, often used by politicians, propagandists, or institutions, repeated relentlessly to shape public perception and discredit opposition. The term is strongly associated with techniques described by Adolf Hitler in 'Mein Kampf' and is often applied to modern disinformation campaigns.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical in both varieties, given its origin in 20th-century political discourse. Slightly more frequent in American political commentary.
Connotations
Universally negative, with strong connotations of manipulation, authoritarianism, and propaganda.
Frequency
Low-frequency term, but its use spikes during periods of political turmoil or discussions about media integrity.
Grammar
How to Use “big lie” in a Sentence
[The/This/Their] + big lie + [about/concerning] + NPVerb (promote/propagate) + [the] + big lie + [that] + clauseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “big lie” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The regime has been big-lying its way through the crisis for months.
- They are attempting to big-lie the election results into doubt.
American English
- The administration is trying to big-lie its way out of the scandal.
- You can't just big-lie a pandemic into nonexistence.
adverb
British English
- The claim was made big-lie style, with brazen confidence.
- He argued big-lie, ignoring all counter-evidence.
American English
- They promoted the theory big-lie, across multiple platforms.
- The statement was delivered big-lie, straight to camera.
adjective
British English
- He is a practitioner of big-lie politics.
- The big-lie tactic relies on audacity and repetition.
American English
- It was a classic big-lie propaganda move.
- We're facing a big-lie media ecosystem.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of corporate fraud or PR scandals (e.g., 'The company's stability was a big lie sold to investors.').
Academic
Common in political science, history, media studies, and sociology to analyse propaganda mechanisms.
Everyday
Used critically in political discussions, but not for everyday fibs.
Technical
A term of art in propaganda analysis and political communication studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “big lie”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “big lie”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “big lie”
- Using it to describe any large or significant lie (e.g., 'He told a big lie about where he was' – incorrect). Confusing with 'white lie'. Using it without understanding its association with propaganda and scale.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The term is most famously associated with Adolf Hitler's descriptions of propaganda technique in his 1925 book 'Mein Kampf', where he argued that the sheer scale of a falsehood makes it more credible to the masses.
No. The key difference is intent and technique. A 'big lie' is a strategic, political or propaganda tool, designed for mass deception and often repeated through state or media apparatus. An ordinary large lie lacks this systematic, ideological dimension.
It is exceedingly rare. Its core meaning is tied to public, large-scale deception. Using it for corporate fraud or a massive personal deception might be metaphorically extended, but it almost always carries a political/propagandistic connotation.
'Disinformation' is the broader category of deliberately false information. A 'big lie' is a specific type of disinformation characterized by its colossal, audacious nature and its use as a central, repeated tenet in a propaganda strategy.
a grossly distorted or entirely fabricated assertion, presented with conviction, with the aim of deceiving people on a large scale.
Big lie is usually formal, political, academic, journalistic in register.
Big lie: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈlaɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈlaɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sell the big lie”
- “The big lie technique”
- “Built on a foundation of big lies”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a lie so BIG it casts a shadow over the truth, making people doubt their own eyes.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS A LARGE STRUCTURE (foundation, building, promoting); TRUTH IS FRAGILE/OBSCURED.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following scenarios BEST illustrates the concept of a 'big lie'?