scalable
Americanadjective
adjective
-
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
- scalableness noun
- scalably adverb
- unscalable adjective
Etymology
Origin of scalable
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.
Glass is stable, cost-effective, and resistant to harsh environments, making it well suited for scalable deployment.
From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026
"The research and proof-of-concept validates the exciting potential of quantum batteries to achieve rapid, scalable charging and energy storage at room temperature, laying the groundwork for next-gen energy solutions," Dr. Quach said.
From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026
“For over a decade, we’ve built the foundation that makes AI safe and scalable – a single source of truth, cross-cloud interoperability, and enterprise-grade governance,” Chief Executive Sridhar Ramaswamy said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
“We need massive, scalable compute power that can handle the growing demands of our AI workloads,” said Meta in its own press release.
From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026
Compton specified that the work would have to be done at breakneck speed and that the process would have to be scalable to an industrial level.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
