big business

noun

Synonyms of big businessnext
1
: an economic group consisting of large profit-making corporations especially with regard to their influence on social or political policy
2
: a very profitable enterprise

Examples of big business in a Sentence

The tax proposal will be of most benefit to big business. Tourism is big business in the region.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Almost all of the gains came from big business, with companies employing 500 or more workers adding 34,000 while those with fewer than 50 employees rose by 3,000. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 As esports became a big business and a lucrative career path, players and teams hired a web of support staff – trainers, coaches and therapists – that mirrored the structure of professional sports. Erica D. Henn, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 The impact lands hardest on homeowners in suburbs where the tax base leans on a handful of big businesses. Alex Nitkin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 Now that Les Lalanne have proven themselves to be big business at auction houses, the question is whether their legacy can be seen as more than just design, but fine art. Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for big business

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of big business was in 1905

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Cite this Entry

“Big business.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20business. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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