large-scale
Americanadjective
-
very extensive or encompassing; of great scope.
a large-scale business plan.
-
made to a large scale.
a large-scale map.
adjective
-
wide-ranging or extensive
-
(of maps and models) constructed or drawn to a big scale
Etymology
Origin of large-scale
First recorded in 1885–90
Compare meaning
How does large-scale compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Anything described as large-scale is happening in a big way. A large-scale study of the benefits of dark chocolate would require many people and lots of time. And lots of chocolate. Yum. Scale has to do with size, so anything large-scale is huge. A large-scale ad campaign goes all around the country — and maybe around the world. A large-scale military campaign is one that might attack on multiple fronts. Cartoon villains who want to take over the world commit large-scale crimes. A large-scale commercial farm is gigantic, cranking out tons of food. The opposite of large-scale is small-scale.
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.
Norman Siegel, one of the nation’s leading civil liberties attorneys, has led large-scale voting rights and voting registration efforts in the south and around the country.
From Salon • Jun. 16, 2026
The 180-page report reinforces large-scale trends acting on the media for years, including the growing appetite for video content, increasing power for individual news content creators, and loss of confidence in traditional media.
From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026
The large-scale genetic analysis of the patient cohort was carried out in Tübingen under the supervision of Dr. Tobias Haack.
From Science Daily • Jun. 13, 2026
This is one of Hockney’s most iconic paintings — a large-scale image of a luminous blue swimming pool marked by a diver’s splash.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
Black minstrelsy was the first large-scale opportunity for African Americans to enter show business.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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.
