Bigwig: meaning, definitions and examples

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bigwig

 

[ ˈbɪɡwɪɡ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

important person

A bigwig is an important person, especially in a particular sphere or group. They are often influential and have a high social status.

Synonyms

VIP, high up, muckety-muck

Examples of usage

  • He was a bigwig in the entertainment industry.
  • The bigwig of the company made an appearance at the event.
  • She acted like a bigwig, ordering everyone around.
Context #2 | Noun

wig with large curls

In historical context, a bigwig refers to a wig with large curls, typically worn by wealthy or prominent individuals in the past.

Synonyms

full-bottomed wig, periwig

Examples of usage

  • The nobleman wore a bigwig to the royal ball.
  • The bigwig was a symbol of status and wealth in the 18th century.

Translations

Translations of the word "bigwig" in other languages:

🇵🇹 figurão

🇮🇳 बड़ा आदमी

🇩🇪 hohes Tier

🇮🇩 orang penting

🇺🇦 важлива персона

🇵🇱 gruba ryba

🇯🇵 大物

🇫🇷 gros bonnet

🇪🇸 pez gordo

🇹🇷 önemli kişi

🇰🇷 거물

🇸🇦 شخصية مهمة

🇨🇿 velká zvíře

🇸🇰 veľká ryba

🇨🇳 大人物

🇸🇮 velika glava

🇮🇸 stórt nafn

🇰🇿 маңызды адам

🇬🇪 დიდი პიროვნება

🇦🇿 önəmli şəxs

🇲🇽 pez gordo

Etymology

The term 'bigwig' originated in the 17th century, combining 'big' (meaning important) and 'wig' (referring to the hairpiece). Initially, it was used to describe wealthy or influential individuals who wore elaborate wigs as a symbol of their status. Over time, the term evolved to encompass any important person in various contexts.

See also: big, bigger, biggest.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,557, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.