small-scale
Americanadjective
-
of limited extent; of small scope.
a small-scale enterprise.
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being a relatively small map, model, etc., of the original and, hence, showing relatively little detail.
adjective
-
of limited size or scope
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(of a map, model, etc) giving a relatively small representation of something, usually missing out details
Etymology
Origin of small-scale
First recorded in 1850–55
Compare meaning
How does small-scale compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Anything that's small-scale is minor or limited in some way, like your town's small-scale public art project, which includes only two modest statues. Your English class might require one long research paper, or several small-scale essays. And while your best friend's family throws enormous birthday parties with hired entertainment and catered food, your family may prefer quieter, small-scale celebrations. The antonym of small-scale is large-scale, and both words date from the early 17th century.
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.
Ms. Proske, best known in New York as co-founder of the unorthodox Heartbeat Opera, directed the intimate scenes as tight close-ups, and her many eye-catching moments, whether stage-filling or small-scale, were always purposeful.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
With far less leisure time and diminished income, recreational facilities are turned over to food production, notably small-scale greenhouses and vertical farming for producing varied fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
EIA data for June 2026 show about 13.34 gigawatts of utility-scale solar and 3.34 GW of small-scale solar in Florida, up roughly 12.5% from a year earlier.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
It is unclear how many foreign nationals are involved in small-scale trading or how many would be affected by the crackdown.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
The subtle knife was responsible for the small-scale, low-level leakage.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
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.
