scaffold

noun

scaf·​fold ˈska-fəld How to pronounce scaffold (audio)
 also  -ˌfōld
1
a
: a temporary or movable platform for workers (such as bricklayers, painters, or miners) to stand or sit on when working at a height above the floor or ground
b
: a platform on which a criminal is executed (as by hanging or beheading)
c
: a platform at a height above ground or floor level
2
: a supporting framework

Examples of scaffold in a Sentence

The condemned man was led to the scaffold.
Recent Examples on the Web The introduction of the catheter to the body, which acts as a scaffold for healing as the bladder and urethra are reconnected, poses the risk of bacteria growing that can create infection. Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2024 Biles also photographed her husband in a room with multiple scaffold towers and a canvas drop cloth on the ground. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2024 At two spots on the north side of the house, the scaffold system didn’t have a ladder, leaving a fall hazard of 10 feet at one spot and 27 feet at another point. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2024 The show constructs a girlboss narrative scaffold to shield its protagonist from accountability—and to appeal to its audience. Laura Zornosa, TIME, 26 Jan. 2024 These channels act as a scaffold; the channels are filled with proteins and other ingredients (color, flavors, fats) to form the muscle fibers. Rob Pegoraro, Ars Technica, 19 Aug. 2023 There's an outer membrane, which contains LPS, and an inner membrane made of peptidoglycan, a large polymer that forms a rigid mesh scaffold around the bacterial cytoplasm. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 5 Jan. 2024 It’s placed on a table that’s secured to scaffolds suspended by cranes or davit systems from the roof. Stephanie Cain, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2024 Many tissues in the human body have an intrinsic regenerative capacity and maybe the tissues just need a scaffold to push them in the right direction. Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 7 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scaffold.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French scaffald, alteration of Old French eschaafauz, escafaut, alteration of chaafaut, from Vulgar Latin *catafalicum — more at catafalque

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of scaffold was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near scaffold

Cite this Entry

“Scaffold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scaffold. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scaffold

noun
scaf·​fold ˈskaf-əld How to pronounce scaffold (audio)
 also  -ˌōld
1
a
: an elevated platform built as a support for workers
b
: a platform on which a criminal is executed
2
: a supporting framework
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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