biggie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium in informal speech; low in formal contexts.Informal, colloquial.
Quick answer
What does “biggie” mean?
Something or someone important, influential, or well-known.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Something or someone important, influential, or well-known.
A slang term for a significant item, issue, or person; can also refer to a problem, something major, or a large object.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use similarly; no major semantic difference.
Connotations
Slightly more playful/ironic in UK; more straightforwardly casual in US.
Frequency
Comparably used in both, slightly more common in US pop culture.
Grammar
How to Use “biggie” in a Sentence
X is a biggiethat's the biggieno biggiewhat's the biggie?Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in very casual internal talk.
Academic
Avoided.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation, especially for downplaying importance.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “biggie”
- Using 'biggie' in formal writing.
- Assuming 'biggie' always refers to a person (it can refer to issues/objects).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is strictly informal and colloquial.
It means 'it's not a problem' or 'it's not important,' used to downplay a minor issue or mistake.
Yes, it can refer to any significant thing, issue, or person.
The term existed before, but the rapper Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls) popularised it in pop culture as a nickname for an important person.
Something or someone important, influential, or well-known.
Biggie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɪɡ.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɪɡ.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “no biggie”
- “that's the biggie”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Biggie Smalls' – a famous rapper, so 'biggie' = someone/something big/famous.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS SIZE (a big thing = an important thing).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'biggie' MOST appropriate?