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 renaissance …Current 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.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe has battled to wean itself off a decades-long dependence on Russia gas. Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025 These deals range from specialized installations to major full-scale deployments. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 14 Nov. 2025 In recent years, the company has shifted to full-scale production, financing, and multi-territory distribution, particularly in the English-language space. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025 By the end of the night, the museum had turned into a full-scale party, a fitting tribute to an icon that continues to transform everyday moments into extraordinary ones. Alex Badia, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Full-scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/full-scale. Accessed 17 Nov. 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
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