plural plateaus also plateaux
plæˈtoʊz 
1
: a large flat area of land that is higher than other areas of land that surround it
a plateau covering hundreds of miles
the Colorado Plateau
2
: a period when something does not increase or advance any further
After several years of rapid growth, the company is now at a plateau. [=it has stopped growing]
The price of gas seems to have reached a plateau.
plateaus; plateaued; plateauing
: to stop growing or increasing : to reach a plateau
Sales of computers have plateaued in recent years.
Cite this Entry
“Plateau.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/plateau. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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