small-scale
Americanadjective
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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
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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.
But across the island, small-scale farmers and cooperatives already operate as private entrepreneurs, growing food, managing their own production and selling to local markets, most of which have been privatized.
From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026
That’s no longer the case, so you would be forgiven for attaching more importance to the small-scale appeal of this adaptation of Irish author Bernard MacLaverty’s 2017 novel.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026
Some small-scale, independent news sites founded in the past five years have built audiences via a crowdfunding model, though they still face political and financial pressures.
From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026
There have been small-scale clashes in parts of the city this week.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026
In most of the states formed over the Maya area of Mesoamerica and the Andes, irrigation systems always remained small-scale ones that local communities could build and maintain themselves.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
