scaffolding

noun

scaf·​fold·​ing ˈska-fəl-diŋ 

-ˌfōl-

1

: a system of scaffolds

… photographers were allowed, three at a time, to ascend the elaborate scaffolding …

—Eric Scigliano

also : material for scaffolds

2

: a support system or structure likened to a system of scaffolds

… in his readings and talks with authors, he is seeking theoretical scaffolding for his actions …

—John F. Dickerson

especially, education : a system or framework of support provided by an instructor to help a student reach the next level of learning

By identifying the next skills just above the child's current skill level, then providing scaffolding (or assistance) in a way that helps the child display the identified skills accurately, and then fading out the need for scaffolding, you can help a child to learn new things and become more independent.

—Heather Gilmore

Teachers should look for tools that help them easily adjust instructional scaffolding from assignment to assignment and from student to student—allowing them to meet students where they are as they learn to write for authentic audiences.

—Troy Hicks

Examples of scaffolding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to a witness, per AP, worshippers had climbed up the wooden structure to view the ceiling when the scaffolding collapsed. —Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025

Meanwhile, the European and Ukrainian vectors provide software, training, and export scaffolding that reduce risk and shorten learning curves. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025

Think of Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and Cam Whitmore as the scaffolding upon which a championship-level team can be built. —David Aldridge, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

That’s why scaffolding matters. —Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

scaffolding

noun

scaf·​fold·​ing ˈskaf-əl-diŋ 

-ˌōl-

1

: a system of scaffolds

2

: materials for scaffolds