scalable

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.

The first records of scalable in reference to something being climeable come from the 1500s. The first records of its more modern sense (relating to things being expanded) come much later, from the 1900s.

This sense of scalable is often associated with computer networks, programs, processes, and data storage. It can be applied to things like databases and artificial intelligence applications, among many others.

More recently, scalable has become popularly used to describe small businesses capable of growth and expansion. It’s especially used as a buzzword in the world of startups. That’s because the goal of most startups is to start small and then become as big as possible. In order for a business to be scalable, it has to be able to expand the capacity to meet the demand for its products or services when its market and customer base grow to become much bigger than they are currently. All of this has to happen while keeping the costs of the product low and maintaining or (as the venture capitalists prefer) increasing profits.

Scalable doesn’t always have to apply to computer networks or startups. Anything that’s able to be expanded or scaled up can be called scalable, such as an individual person’s workflow or a physical object that can be added to as needed.

What are some other forms related to scalable?

• scale (verb)
• scalability (noun)
• scalableness (noun)
• scalably (adverb)
• unscalable (adjective)

What are some synonyms for scalable?

• expandable
• climbable
• growable

What are some words that share a root or word element with scalable? 

• scale
• escalate

What are some words that often get used in discussing scalable?

• startup
• business
• network
• expand
• grow
• scale up
• operation
• profit
• production
• demand
• climb
• mountain
• cliff

Scalable is most commonly used in the context of computers and small businesses. In the context of business, it’s often considered a buzzword.

“A common misconception about co-ops is that they’re small, local, and slow. Savvy is demonstrating that co-ops can not only move fast, but also create buy-in, network effects, and brand trust, all key ingredients to large, sustainable, scalable companies” https://t.co/fpCXs1dvHP

— indievc (@indievc) April 16, 2020

My academic and professional goal is to develop a scalable approach on how to bring investment into our low-income communities of color WITHOUT gentrification as a consequence. We DESERVE beautiful housing, neighborhoods, schools, environment, etc!

— B.R (@brianrezz) April 18, 2020

In this new (free) book, experts from Google share best practices to help your organization design scalable and reliable systems that are fundamentally secure. #CronWeeklyhttps://t.co/ZYNIVIx6G6

— Mattias Geniar (@mattiasgeniar) April 15, 2020

Which of the following words is LEAST likely to describe something considered scalable?

A. flexible
B. expandable
C. adaptable
D. rigid