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 fair has also instituted lower flat rates for many of their special sectors like Statements and Feature and introduced a sliding scale pricing model for the main Galleries sector, where larger booths pay a higher square-meter rate than smaller booths.
—
Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 15 June 2026
Wealth management firms have typically set their fees based on an individual's or family's wealth levels, offering a sliding scale based on investible assets.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 9 June 2026
Liquid Glass customization With iOS 27, users have more control over how Liquid Glass appears on devices using a new sliding scale in the Settings app.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 8 June 2026
While minimum player salaries increased on a sliding scale, the owners won limits on individual salaries of star players, a move that gave owners more control over player costs in the NBA than in any of the other major sports.
—Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sliding scale
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Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 15 June 2026
Wealth management firms have typically set their fees based on an individual's or family's wealth levels, offering a sliding scale based on investible assets.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 9 June 2026
Liquid Glass customization With iOS 27, users have more control over how Liquid Glass appears on devices using a new sliding scale in the Settings app.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 8 June 2026
While minimum player salaries increased on a sliding scale, the owners won limits on individual salaries of star players, a move that gave owners more control over player costs in the NBA than in any of the other major sports.
—Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 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 17 Jun. 2026.
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