Definition of the word big business

The term "big business" first emerged during the late 19th century, at a time when the industrial revolution was transforming the American economy. Prior to this period, most businesses in the United States were small, family-owned enterprises. However, as manufacturing techniques advanced and transportation improved, a new breed of large, profitable corporations emerged. The coining of the phrase "big business" can be traced to the muckraking journalism of the early 1900s. Investigative reporters like Ida Tarbell and Lincoln Steffens exposed the corporate misdeeds and excessive power of giants like Standard Oil and U.S. Steel, unleashing public outrage and forging a new, critical perception of these businesses as distinct entities separate from their owners and managers. The rise of the Progressive movement further fueled the use of "big business" as a pejorative term, as reformers sought to curtail the power and influence of these conglomerates. The phrase became widely popular in political discourse and eventually entered common parlance, reflecting a growing awareness of the societal impact and economic heft of major corporations. Today, "big business" continues to be a contentious and often polarizing term, with some seeing it as a symbol of innovation and job creation, and others as a synonym for greed, exploitation, and dominant market power. Regardless of one's perspective, however, there is no denying the enduring cultural and economic significance of this phrase, which speaks to the very heart of American business and society.