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.
Those promises did not spare Ukraine from Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the 2022 full-scale invasion. Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025 Additionally, reports by The New York Times and Radio Free Europe have found that at least six Ukrainian cities have been destroyed since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025 After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the threat to the Baltic has become even more evident. Peter Rutland, The Conversation, 22 Aug. 2025 Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has occasionally spilled into neighboring NATO countries, such as Romania, and its long‑range aviation and drone attacks in Ukraine have repeatedly prompted allied air‑policing and monitoring missions. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 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 28 Aug. 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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