Meanings
comparative smaller-scale · superlative smallest-scale · alternative small scale
- Concerning a lower order of magnitude rather than a higher one.
small-scale aspects of fluid dynamics
Synonyms: microlevel, micro · Antonyms: large-scale, macrolevel, macro
- Drawn or constructed at a small size (at low scale), without much detail.
a small-scale inset orienting the viewer, implying "you are here"
Antonyms: large-scale
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveConcerning a lower order of magnitude rather than a higher one.
adjectiveHaving a modest scope or extent.
adjectiveDrawn or constructed at a small size (at low scale), without much detail.
More synonyms by meaning
adjectiverelatively moderate, limited, or small
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Bulgarian дребен, в малък мащаб
- дребен (dreben)having a modest scope or extent
- в малък мащаб (v malăk maštab)too small for much detail
Chinese Mandarin 小型
- 小型 (xiǎoxíng)having a modest scope or extent
Dutch kleinschalig
- kleinschalighaving a modest scope or extent
Finnish pienimuotoinen, vaatimaton
- pienimuotoinenhaving a modest scope or extent
- vaatimatonhaving a modest scope or extent
- pienimuotoinentoo small for much detail
French à petite échelle
- à petite échellehaving a modest scope or extent
German kleinangelegt, klein angelegt
- kleinangelegthaving a modest scope or extent
- klein angelegthaving a modest scope or extent
Japanese 小規模の, 小型の
- 小規模の (shōkibo no)having a modest scope or extent
- 小型の (kogata no)having a modest scope or extent
Polish na małą skalę, mały
- na małą skalęhaving a modest scope or extent
- małytoo small for much detail
- drobnytoo small for much detail
Russian мелкомасшта́бный, маломасшта́бный
- мелкомасшта́бный (melkomasštábnyj)having a modest scope or extent
- маломасшта́бный (malomasštábnyj)having a modest scope or extent
Scottish Gaelic beag-sgèile, beag-sgèile
- beag-sgèilehaving a modest scope or extent
- beag-sgèiletoo small for much detail
Swedish småskalig
- småskalighaving a modest scope or extent
Cite this entry
small-scale. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/small-scale
“small-scale.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/small-scale. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “small-scale,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/small-scale.
Source: small-scale on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.