sliding scale

noun

|Updated on: 22 Jul 2018

Definition of sliding scale

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

See sliding scale defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of sliding scale from the Web

Aldermen unanimously approved the local preference option that would be figured on contracts up to $2 million and would be done on a sliding scale.

— steve lord, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora OKs formula to give preference to local firms bidding for city contracts," 29 June 2018
At least 540,000 cases of wine from the 2017 vintage will carry the logo, according to the Wine Institute, and its cost to wineries runs on a sliding scale, from $200 to $2,000.

— esther mobley, SFChronicle.com, "California wine’s sustainability dilemma," 22 June 2018
Those co-ops generally operate on a sliding scale, and shoppers do not have to be members to use the stores.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "A community-owned grocery is (slowly) making its way to Louisville," 29 May 2018
James said the Mid-America Regional Council, which coordinates early childhood programs and philanthropic foundations, would employ a sliding scale to distribute the money to schools and other eligible service providers.

— bill turque and mará rose williams, kansascity, "James launches campaign for sales tax hike to fund pre-K," 3 July 2018
Market customers can purchase a share of fruits and vegetables on a sliding scale using cash, card or SNAP benefits.

— louisville courier journal, The Courier-Journal, "Your guide to fresh produce at over 20 Louisville-area farmers markets," 28 June 2018
There were also sliding scales of metabolic fitness and inflammatory activity and graphs of where my gut health fit in among samples of healthy people and the general public.

— jacqueline detwiler, Popular Mechanics, "I Hacked My Body So You Don't Have To," 25 June 2018
If so, does that graduate school have a psychology program and clinic that charges on a sliding scale and is the clinic staffed with graduate students?

— jeanne phillips, San Francisco Chronicle, "Mystifying mood swings happen without warning," 2 June 2018
There would be a sliding scale to determine how much each baby would received based on the parents' wealth.

— Anchorage Daily News, "There’s a serious proposal to give babies born in the United States $20,000 (or more)," 9 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sliding scale.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.