big name

¹ American  

noun

1. a person who has a preeminent public reputation in a specified field.

   He's a big name in education.

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big-name ² American  

[big-neym] / ˈbɪgˌneɪm /

adjective

1. having a widespread public reputation as a leader in a specified field; famous.

   a big-name doctor; a big-name actress.

2. of, relating to, or composed of a big-name person or persons.

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big name British  

noun

1. informal

   1. a famous person

   2. ( as modifier )

      a big-name performer

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Etymology

Origin of big name¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Origin of big-name²

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Example Sentences

Chelsea are a big name and a side full of top players, but we have written history.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

The struggling Wizards landed a big name at the NBA trade deadline this week in acquiring Anthony Davis from Dallas.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

While Henderson is a notable omission, he is not the only big name missing from last year's Six Nations squad.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

The read-through for one big name in particular — ConocoPhillips — stood out for analysts at Citi as they see 8% upside for shares if Venezuela pays up on a long-overdue debt.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 5, 2026

They march to the border of Grosse Pointe with his big name and his face on big posters, and they shout, “I am Kasim Anderson!”

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi