big sister: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighInformal (as family term); can be formal when used in titles of organisations/programmes (e.g., Big Sister programme).
Quick answer
What does “big sister” mean?
An older female sibling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An older female sibling.
Any older female who assumes a protective, guiding, or mentoring role over another; used as a title for an elder sibling or a term of address/responsibility in organizations and mentorship programmes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. The term is equally common and understood in both varieties. The concept of formal mentoring programmes named "Big Sister" may be slightly more established in the US.
Connotations
Identical connotations of family relation, protection, and guidance.
Frequency
Equally frequent in family contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “big sister” in a Sentence
X's big sisterbig sister to Yact/play the big sisterbig-sister (adj.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “big sister” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She tends to big-sister everyone in the club.
- Stop big-sistering me!
American English
- She always big-sisters the new interns.
- He big-sistered his way through the project.
adjective
British English
- She gave him a big-sisterly talk.
- Her attitude was very big-sister.
American English
- She offered some big-sister advice.
- He has a big-sister vibe about him.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; only in reference to formal mentorship schemes within a company.
Academic
Rare; used in sociology/family studies when discussing sibling roles.
Everyday
Very common in family and informal social contexts.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “big sister”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “big sister”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “big sister”
- Using 'big sister' to mean 'larger in physical size' (though possible, it's marked).
- Incorrectly capitalising in non-title contexts (e.g., 'I told my Big sister' – unnecessary).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It can refer to an older stepsister, an older female cousin treated as a sister, or metaphorically to any older female in a protective role.
Semantically, very little. 'Big sister' is slightly more informal and can carry stronger connotations of nurturing or authority. 'Older sister' is more neutral and factual.
Not literally. For males, the equivalent is 'big brother'. However, a male might jokingly be said to 'act like a big sister' if displaying stereotypically nurturing/protective behaviour.
When used as a compound noun (e.g., "my big sister"), it is not hyphenated. A hyphen is often used when it functions as a modifier (e.g., "big-sister advice") or a verb ("to big-sister someone").
An older female sibling.
Big sister is usually informal (as family term); can be formal when used in titles of organisations/programmes (e.g., big sister programme). in register.
Big sister: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈsɪs.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈsɪs.tɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “play big sister”
- “big-sisterly advice”
- “big sister act”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BIG in responsibility, not just size. She's the SISTER who has seen more birthdays.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS SIZE (The older protector is 'big'); GUIDANCE IS SENIORITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'big sister' LEAST likely to be used literally?