Scope
/skoʊp/
Definitions
3 meaningsThe range or extent covered by a subject, activity, or topic.
/skoʊp/
The extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to which it is relevant.
The scope of the investigation included all aspects of the company's finances.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're planning a party. The scope is how much of the party you have to plan, like whether it includes just a cake and a few friends, or a big band and a huge venue. The scope is all the things involved!
👶 For kids: How big something is. Like, the scope of your drawing is how big your picture is.
More Examples
The teacher broadened the scope of the lesson to include more historical context.
The author's scope of work described his areas of expertise.
How It's Used
"The project's scope has expanded beyond the initial plan."
"The company's market scope includes both domestic and international sales."
The opportunity or possibility for doing or achieving something.
/skoʊp/
An opportunity or the possibility for doing or achieving something.
There is a great scope for improving the efficiency of the process.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're a kid and your parents are finally okay with you having a pet. The scope is how many types of pets you can get – a dog, a cat, a hamster? The scope is what's possible!
👶 For kids: A chance to do something. It's like, "Wow, there's scope for me to learn a lot!"
More Examples
The new project provided ample scope for creativity.
The company's research revealed a large scope for innovation.
How It's Used
"The new technology opened up a whole new scope of possibilities."
"The company saw a significant scope for growth in the emerging market."
To investigate or assess the scope of something; to look over; to survey.
/skoʊp/
Assess or investigate the scope of something.
The team scoped the requirements for the new software application.
💡 Simply: If you want to build a treehouse, you would need to scope the area, figure out how many trees you'd need, and what kind of tools and materials you need. It is the pre-planning!
👶 For kids: To check something out carefully. Like, you scope the candy aisle to see if there's something you like!
More Examples
The detective scoped the crime scene for clues.
Before investing, the financial advisor scoped the market trends.
How It's Used
"The project manager scoped the entire project before making a proposal."
"The researchers scoped the landscape to observe the animals."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
within the scope of
Included or allowed within the range or extent of something.
"This analysis is within the scope of the project."
out of scope
Not included or not relevant to the range or extent of something.
"That request is out of scope for this project."
From Late Latin *scopus*, from Greek *skopos* meaning 'aim, target, watcher'.
The word 'scope' has been used since the 17th century, initially to refer to a field of view, then evolving to encompass areas of study and action.
Memory tip
Think of a telescope: it has a limited field of *scope*, determining what you see.
Word Origin
"aim, target, watcher"