Is 'big name' formal or informal?

It is primarily informal to semi-formal. It's common in journalism, marketing, and everyday speech, but would be replaced by 'eminent figure', 'prominent individual', or 'leading company' in very formal academic or official documents.

Can 'big name' refer to a company?

Yes. While often referring to people, it is perfectly natural to refer to a well-known, prestigious company as a 'big name', e.g., 'Google is a big name in tech.'

What's the difference between 'big name' and 'celebrity'?

They are largely synonymous, but 'celebrity' strongly implies media fame and public recognition. 'Big name' can have a more professional or industry-specific focus—a 'big name in cardiology' may not be a public 'celebrity', but is highly respected in their field.

Is the hyphenated form 'big-name' correct?

Yes, when used attributively (before a noun) as a compound adjective, it is usually hyphenated: 'a big-name actor'. When used as a noun phrase, it is not hyphenated: 'He is a big name.'

How do you pronounce “big name”?

Big name: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈneɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈneɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

big name: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˌbɪɡ ˈneɪm/US/ˌbɪɡ ˈneɪm/

Informal, semi-formal, journalistic

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “big name” mean?

A famous, important, or influential person, especially in a particular field such as entertainment, sports, or business.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A famous, important, or influential person, especially in a particular field such as entertainment, sports, or business.

An organisation, brand, or company that is prominent and widely recognised. Can also refer to a star performer or a major participant whose presence brings credibility or attention.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Usage and meaning are identical. Both varieties use the term with the same frequency and in the same contexts.

Connotations

Identical connotations of prestige, fame, and importance.

Frequency

Equally common and natural in both British and American English.

Grammar

How to Use “big name” in a Sentence

attracted by [big names]featuring [big-name] speakersa concert full of [big names]secured a [big-name] sponsor

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

attract big namesbig-name starbig-name signingbig-name guest

medium

industry big namesbig-name speakerbig-name clientbig-name author

weak

list of big namesseveral big nameswithout big nameshoped-for big name

Examples

Examples of “big name” in a Sentence

verb

British English

They managed to big-name the festival with a last-minute headline act.
(Note: 'big-name' as a verb is rare and very informal)

American English

The network is trying to big-name their new talk show lineup.
(Note: 'big-name' as a verb is rare and very informal)

adverb

British English

(Not standard; no adverbial form in use)

American English

(Not standard; no adverbial form in use)

adjective

British English

They booked a big-name DJ for the club night.
It's a big-name brand with a premium price tag.

American English

The studio needs a big-name actor to greenlight the project.
We're partnering with a big-name tech firm.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Refers to prestigious clients, influential investors, or leading companies. 'The merger attracted some big names from Wall Street.'

Academic

Used for highly cited, eminent scholars or keynote speakers at conferences. 'The symposium's programme features several big names in neuroscience.'

Everyday

Used for famous actors, musicians, or sports stars. 'Did you see the big names at the awards ceremony last night?'

Technical

Not typically used in highly technical fields; more common in marketing, media, and event planning discourse.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “big name”

Strong

superstar megastar household nameA-lister

Neutral

celebrity starVIPluminary

Weak

notable personality figure dignitary

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “big name”

unknown nobody nonentityunheard-of person

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “big name”

Using it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'There was a lot of big name'). It is countable: 'There were a lot of big names.' Confusing it with 'big shot', which has a more specific connotation of power/influence rather than general fame.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It is primarily informal to semi-formal. It's common in journalism, marketing, and everyday speech, but would be replaced by 'eminent figure', 'prominent individual', or 'leading company' in very formal academic or official documents.
: Yes. While often referring to people, it is perfectly natural to refer to a well-known, prestigious company as a 'big name', e.g., 'Google is a big name in tech.'
: They are largely synonymous, but 'celebrity' strongly implies media fame and public recognition. 'Big name' can have a more professional or industry-specific focus—a 'big name in cardiology' may not be a public 'celebrity', but is highly respected in their field.
: Yes, when used attributively (before a noun) as a compound adjective, it is usually hyphenated: 'a big-name actor'. When used as a noun phrase, it is not hyphenated: 'He is a big name.'
: A famous, important, or influential person, especially in a particular field such as entertainment, sports, or business.
: Big name: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈneɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈneɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“big fish (in a small pond)”
“big cheese”
“heavy hitter”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a huge, brightly-lit name on a theatre marquee. A 'big name' is someone whose name is displayed in large letters because they are famous.

Conceptual Metaphor

IMPORTANCE IS SIZE / FAME IS VISIBILITY. A prominent person is conceptualised as having a physically larger, more visible name.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The charity gala succeeded in attracting several political , which helped raise its profile significantly.

Multiple Choice

In which context is the term 'big name' LEAST likely to be used?