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Synonyms

big band

American  

noun

  1. a jazz or dance band that is the size of an orchestra.

big band British  

noun

  1. a large jazz or dance band, popular esp in the 1930s to the 1950s

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of big band

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Dexter went from sheltered son of a doctor to brooding child hipster who left home early to tour with big bands.

From Los Angeles Times

Miller’s orchestra, along with several dozen other big bands, recorded extensively for the V-Disc program, operated by the Special Services division of the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Olly said his dream is to play in a "big band" at Wembley Stadium, possibly playing alongside music legend May.

From BBC

The courtly gentleman guided women around the floor to big band standards with all the aplomb of teenage boys waltzing at a cotillion dance they’ve been forced to attend by their parents.

From Salon

He said: "There's a pretty big buzz around the city for it. It's always cool when you get big bands come but especially for this when it's been years since they have played."

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.