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
The district now fully covers monthly premiums for its employees but has proposed charging employees a monthly rate, with a sliding scale based on their salaries.
—
Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The cap declines on a sliding scale, down to about 2% for lower earners.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
Community health centers charge based on a sliding scale and see 52 million patients annually in some of the country’s most underserved areas, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers.
—Renuka Rayasam, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Apple Music introduced fraud penalties back in 2022, where along with demonetizing the illegitimate streams themselves, the company employed a sliding scale of fining fraudsters a fee calculated on what would’ve been royalties.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sliding scale
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Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The cap declines on a sliding scale, down to about 2% for lower earners.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
Community health centers charge based on a sliding scale and see 52 million patients annually in some of the country’s most underserved areas, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers.
—Renuka Rayasam, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Apple Music introduced fraud penalties back in 2022, where along with demonetizing the illegitimate streams themselves, the company employed a sliding scale of fining fraudsters a fee calculated on what would’ve been royalties.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 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 21 Feb. 2026.
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