scalable
Americanadjective
adjective
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capable of being scaled or climbed
-
computing (of a network) able to be expanded to cope with increased use
Usage
What does scalable mean? Scalable means able to be expanded or made bigger. It’s especially applied to small businesses and computer networks. This sense of the word is based on the noun scale, referring to the size or extent of something. The related phrase scale up means to expand something or make it bigger. A company considered scalable is one that can be scaled up—it can use the same business model with a much larger operation. The term is especially used in the context of startups that could potentially become very large companies. A computer network or other virtual entity that’s scalable is one that can be expanded while allowing for increased use or additional computing capacity. Unrelatedly, scalable means able to be climbed. This sense of the word is based on the verb scale, meaning to climb. Example: It’s an interesting business model, but it’s not scalable—to expand, you’d need an unsustainable amount of raw materials and infrastructure.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of scalable
Explanation
When something's scalable, it's possible to change its size to suit your needs. Your lemonade stand is scalable if you can easily, quickly make more lemonade and obtain more cups to meet increased demand. You can use this adjective in two ways. First, it can mean "adaptable" or "able to grow." This is often used in business, but you can describe many things this way. Your bird feeder is scalable if it works for a single sparrow but can also fit a dozen grackles. Things are also scalable when you can climb over, or scale, them: "The hill on the obstacle course is low and easily scalable."
Vocabulary lists containing scalable
The Bronze Bow
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"The Digital Revolution and the Adolescent Brain Evolution" by Jay N. Giedd
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Endling: The First
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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.
The Missile Defense Agency added Redwire to the pool of more than 2,400 eligible vendors for its $151 billion Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense, or SHIELD, program.
From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026
"Behind the scenes, TikTok is likely working hard to assure advertisers it will remain business as normal," says Jasmine Enberg, co-CEO of Scalable, a media company and podcast focused on the creator economy.
From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026
Scalable roll-to-roll production, as used in newspaper printing, is possible.
From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2024
But the Mark Glatt-trained Chatalas had too much left and jockey Antonio Fresu held off a charging Scalable.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2023
More formally, the product is called the 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor.
From New York Times • Jan. 10, 2023
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.
