economy of scale

noun phrase

: a reduction in the cost of producing something (such as a car or a unit of electricity) brought about especially by increased size of production facilities
usually used in plural

Examples of economy of scale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The high cost of water service in Hialeah is due to multiple factors, including the system structure, economy of scale, franchise fees, bimonthly billing, and water and sewer pipe leaks. Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 24 July 2024 It’s been a classic economy of scale — as long as ports were able to handle the big ships. Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2024 Starlink and other mega constellations rely on an economy of scale; their massive fleet is continually refreshed with new satellites to replace old ones that burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. Max Springer, Scientific American, 25 June 2024 One is economy of scale of the battery itself, which is the most expensive part of an electric car. Morgan Korn, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2023 The advantage of the superhot peppers is economy of scale. Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2023 In Oregon, where sales began in 2015, large growers have achieved some economy of scale that could give them a leg up in a broader market. Gene Johnson, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2023 In Oregon, where sales began in 2015, large growers have achieved some economy of scale that could give them a leg up in a broader market — but in the meantime, the state’s oversupply is considered the nation’s worst. Gene Johnson, Andrew Selsky, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Apr. 2023 Although some cutting to order is done in a grocery meat department, economy of scale is achieved by selling only the most popular cuts of meat mostly raised for the commodity market. Alison Arnett, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of economy of scale was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near economy of scale

Cite this Entry

“Economy of scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/economy%20of%20scale. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on economy of scale

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!