big business

noun

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

Private-security work is big business in Johannesburg—of the sixty-three million people who live in South Africa, almost three million work in private security. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026

The oil industry and big business groups were staunchly opposed. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Households earning $50,000 to $100,000 are split evenly on socialism, and 69% view big business unfavorably, more than any other income group. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Today, their Traverse City store, M22, is a big business selling clothing, coffee mugs, car decals, and even bottles of wine branded with the highway logo. — Mike Norton, Midwest Living, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for big business

• agribusiness
• nonbusiness