Meaning
An important or influential person, especially in an organization, profession or institution. Informal and faintly mocking rather than respectful; typically said of officials, executives and other grandees, often in compounds such as corporate or studio bigwig. Informal and mildly disrespectful, usually poking fun at status or pomposity. Regional use: General English.
Origin
From the large, imposing powdered wigs worn by men of rank and authority in the 17th and 18th centuries: the bigger the wig, the grander the man. Etymonline dates the figurative compound to 1781, defined as 'a great man, person of consequence', coined in reference to the wigs formerly worn by men of rank or authority; the underlying word wig, a shortening of periwig, is recorded from the 1670s. The fashion for grand wigs faded around the start of the 19th century, leaving the compound behind as a joke about pomposity. Collins and Webster's New World give the same derivation ('from the large wigs once worn by judges and others of distinction') and mark the word informal.
Research Sources
References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.
Variants
- corporate bigwig
- one of the bigwigs
- political bigwig
Usage Examples
- All the studio bigwigs turned up for the premiere in identical black cars.
- Before you complain about the schedule changes, remember that some bigwig at headquarters approved them.
- She was greeted like a bigwig at the conference even though her job title was modest.