Large-Scale: Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：large in scope (large-scale)

large-scale 🔊

/lɑːrdʒ skeɪl/

adj.

Involving a lot of people, resources, or covering a big area.

Large-scale construction site with cranes and scaffolding

large in scope 🔊

➕

/lɑːrdʒ ɪn skoʊp/

adj.

Describes something that involves a great amount of people, resources, or covers a broad area.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combines 'large' (big) from Old French and 'scale' (size) from Latin 'scala' (ladder).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a giant weighing scale on a construction site—that's a large-scale operation.

📖 Example

The city is undergoing a large-scale renovation to build new parks and transportation systems. 🔊 The city is undergoing a large-scale renovation to build new parks and transportation systems.

🔗 Collocations

large-scale project – a project that requires significant resources and affects a wide area

large-scale production – manufacturing on a massive volume, often using assembly lines

large-scale operation – an operation involving many personnel and extensive logistics

🔄 Synonyms

massive (adj.) – extremely large in size, amount, or scale

extensive (adj.) – covering a large area; having a wide range or effect

broad (adj.) – having a wide scope or range

🚫 Antonyms

small-scale (adj.) – limited in size, scope, or resources

limited (adj.) – restricted in extent, number, or scope

minor (adj.) – less important or smaller in size or scale

📖 Cultural Story

The term emerged during the Industrial Revolution to describe vast manufacturing projects. It is now common in business, urban planning, and technology contexts to indicate extensive scope and resource commitment.