1
: identical to an original in proportion and size
full-scale drawing
2
a
: involving full use of available resources
a full-scale biography
full-scale war
b
: total, complete
a full-scale musical renaissanceCurrent Biography

Examples of full-scale in a Sentence

a full-scale search and rescue for the victims of the rock slide
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In all of these arguments, the prospect of a full-scale war functions as a pressure test. Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025 Within 48 hours, D.C. Cobb’s shifted from a dine-in operation to a full-scale delivery service. Xandra Harbet, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025 Russia's seizure of Crimea set the stage for its later incursions into Eastern Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion launched in February 2022. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 Ukraine’s military succeeded in stopping Russian forces from taking over the capital Kyiv in the first, fraught days of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Laura Kelly, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for full-scale

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of full-scale was in 1887

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Full-scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/full-scale. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

full-scale

adjective
ˈfu̇l-ˈskā(ə)l
1
: identical to an original in size
2
: not limited in any way : using everything that can be used
a full-scale war
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!