Phrase guide

Big Brother

noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Unwarranted, invasive, and discreet surveillance, especially of a people by its government.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any omnipresent authority or figurehead representing oppressive control.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Holonym: the System

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A sibling's older brother.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: childish, often

Examples

  • If you don't give me back my toys I'll tell my big brother!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Something that is bigger in comparison.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

early mobile phones (in China)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Alternative form of Big Brother.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

an older brother

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: brother, blood brother

8

noun

Meaning 8

an authoritarian leader and invader of privacy

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: authoritarian, dictator

History

Etymology

After the nominal leader of Oceania in George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: isoveli — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • French: Big Brother — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • Greek: Μεγάλος Αδελφός (Megálos Adelfós) — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • Hungarian: Nagy Testvér — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • Polish: Wielki Brat — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • Portuguese: Grande Irmão — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • Russian: Большо́й Брат (Bolʹšój Brat) — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • Serbo-Croatian: велики брат — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • Serbo-Croatian: veliki brat — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • Spanish: Gran Hermano — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • Swedish: storebror — unwarranted and invasive government surveillance
  • Chinese Mandarin: 老大哥 (lǎodàgē) — a figurehead representing oppressive control
  • Polish: Wielki Brat — a figurehead representing oppressive control
  • Portuguese: Grande Irmão — a figurehead representing oppressive control
  • Spanish: Gran Hermano — a figurehead representing oppressive control