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
In the law of privacy, there is always a sliding scale of privacy depending on the age of the person involved and how compelling the public’s need is for information.
—
Holly Yan, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
In short, the Repayment Assistance Plan uses a sliding scale based on income and provides borrowers with a straightforward and predictable way to estimate their payment based on their income alone, without complex formulas about poverty lines or discretionary income.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
For businesses, Extended Support Updates will be available for another three years, with a punishing sliding scale of fees that start at $61 for the first year, but double the following year, and then double again in year three.
—Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
There have been a few bad defeats for Newcastle this season — where did that defeat sit on the sliding scale?
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sliding scale
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Holly Yan, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
In short, the Repayment Assistance Plan uses a sliding scale based on income and provides borrowers with a straightforward and predictable way to estimate their payment based on their income alone, without complex formulas about poverty lines or discretionary income.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
For businesses, Extended Support Updates will be available for another three years, with a punishing sliding scale of fees that start at $61 for the first year, but double the following year, and then double again in year three.
—Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
There have been a few bad defeats for Newcastle this season — where did that defeat sit on the sliding scale?
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
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 May. 2025.
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