Big Apple

/ˈbɪˌɡæ.pəl/

proper noun

Nickname for New York City: a major city in New York, United States.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

proper nounthe Big Apple
  1. Nickname for New York City: a major city in New York, United States.

    Sharon, I left my man At a North Dakota junction And I came out to the Big Apple here To face the dream's malfunction

    1976, “Song for Sharon”, in Hejira, performed by Joni Mitchell

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
city that never sleepsnew yorknew york city

Origin

Popularized by John J. Fitz Gerald in horse-racing articles in the 1920s - an apple being a treat for a horse, and New York being a prize location for horse-racing at the time. From usage among African American stable hands. See the Wikipedia article. The Big Apple. The dream of every lad that ever threw a leg over a thoroughbred and the goal of all horsemen. There's only one Big Apple. That's New York.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Basque Sagar Handia
  • Sagar Handianickname for New York City
Bulgarian Голя́мата я́бълка
  • Голя́мата я́бълка (Goljámata jábălka)nickname for New York City
Catalan Gran Poma
  • Gran Pomanickname for New York City
Esperanto Granda Pomo
  • Granda Pomonickname for New York City
Estonian Suur Õun
  • Suur Õunnickname for New York City
Finnish Iso Omena
  • Iso Omenanickname for New York City
French Grosse Pomme, Big Apple
  • Grosse Pommenickname for New York City
  • Big Applenickname for New York City
German Big Apple
  • Big Applenickname for New York City
Greek Μεγάλο Μήλο
  • Μεγάλο Μήλο (Megálo Mílo)nickname for New York City
Hungarian Nagy Alma
  • Nagy Almanickname for New York City
Italian Grande Mela
  • Grande Melanickname for New York City
Japanese ビッグ・アップル
  • ビッグ・アップル (Biggu Appuru)nickname for New York City
Korean 빅 애플
  • 빅 애플 (Bik Aepeul)nickname for New York City
Polish Wielkie Jabłko
  • Wielkie Jabłkonickname for New York City
Portuguese Grande Maçã
  • Grande Maçãnickname for New York City
Russian Большо́е я́блоко
  • Большо́е я́блоко (Bolʹšóje jábloko)nickname for New York City
Spanish Gran Manzana
  • Gran Manzananickname for New York City
Cite this entry
APA

Big Apple. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Big%20Apple

MLA

“Big Apple.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Big%20Apple. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Big Apple,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Big%20Apple.

Source: Big Apple on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.