sliding scale
noun
1
: a wage scale geared to the selling price of the product or to the consumer price index but usually guaranteeing a minimum below which the wage will not fall
2
a
: a system for raising or lowering tariffs in accord with price changes
b
: a flexible scale (as of fees or subsidies) adjusted to the needs or income of individuals
the sliding scale of medical fees
Examples of sliding scale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tickets are per car and are on a sliding scale of $10, $20, or $35.
—
Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026
The maximum owed under that sliding scale for people whose income is on the higher end of the range is $1,625 for an individual and $3,250 for a family.
—Julie Appleby, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
And supporters started a nonprofit to help pay for the costs of the medication and additional staffing, bringing the price for patients down from about $450 to an average of about $225, based on a sliding scale.
—Kate Wells, NPR, 8 Apr. 2026
Accessibility and community care are important; the festival offers sliding scale pricing, live streams for most shows, 11 events with ASL interpreters, and have even programmed a gender-affirming care fair on April 11where attendees can meet real trans healthcare practitioners.
—Candace Hansen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sliding scale
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Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026
The maximum owed under that sliding scale for people whose income is on the higher end of the range is $1,625 for an individual and $3,250 for a family.
—Julie Appleby, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
And supporters started a nonprofit to help pay for the costs of the medication and additional staffing, bringing the price for patients down from about $450 to an average of about $225, based on a sliding scale.
—Kate Wells, NPR, 8 Apr. 2026
Accessibility and community care are important; the festival offers sliding scale pricing, live streams for most shows, 11 events with ASL interpreters, and have even programmed a gender-affirming care fair on April 11where attendees can meet real trans healthcare practitioners.
—Candace Hansen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sliding scale
Cite this Entry
“Sliding scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sliding%20scale. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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