sliding scale
nounDefinition 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
2a
: 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
For lower-income retirees, Social Security usually is tax free, while higher-income seniors pay taxes on a sliding scale. — Mark Miller, New York Times, "7 of Your Most Burning Questions on Social Security (With Answers)," 2 Aug. 2019 On the community level, things like cooking healthy food in bulk in commercial kitchens and selling it on a sliding scale can help. — Christine Byrne, SELF, "Why 'Just Cook More' Isn't the Universal Solution to Healthy Eating," 20 July 2019 Prices for your first checked bag clock in around $32 at online booking, $42 before or during online check-in, $55 at the airport, and $65 at the gate (again prices are on a sliding scale). — Brett Snyder, Condé Nast Traveler, "How to Minimize Spirit Airlines Baggage Fees and Other Extra Charges," 17 July 2019 Families earning less than 200 percent of the poverty line would have access to free child care, while those earning more would pay on a sliding scale topping out at 7 percent of a family’s income. — Christina Prignano, BostonGlobe.com, "Elizabeth Warren says she has a plan for that. Here’s a running list," 11 July 2019 The subsidy is reduced on a sliding scale for those who enroll later, down to 65% of tuition for students who enter local schools in the ninth grade. — Michelle Hackman, WSJ, "Does Free College Work? Kalamazoo Offers Some Answers," 28 June 2019 The Josselyn Center’s providers accept Medicare, Medicaid, ACA insurance and private insurance with billing on a sliding scale depending on the client’s resources, Scholl said. — Karen Ann Cullotta, chicagotribune.com, "New Trier Township officials hope tele-psychiatry, walk-in clinic provides residents with affordable mental health services," 25 June 2019 Last year, the base bill for taxable incomes of $10,850 to $21,150 ranged from $81 to $323, on a sliding scale. — Rich Exner, cleveland.com, "See if you really will get a tax cut from the state legislature this year; many Ohioans will pay more," 22 July 2019 The regents' allocation will also finance partial tuition support for students from families with incomes up to $125,000, based on a sliding scale. — Dallas News, "UT-Austin promises free tuition to students with family income less than $65,000 in 2020," 9 July 2019These 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.
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