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
LeetCode-style interviews may test memory and persistence, but engineers work alongside AI tools like Cursor, GitHub Copilot or Claude in real AI-first workflows to scaffold code, debug and iterate rapidly.
—
Naga Vadrevu, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Researchers can control the density, strength, and structure of the scaffolds by modifying the water content.
—Amy Paturel, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
The adjustable telescoping design allows this five-in-one Werner ladder to be used in five different positions: twin stepladder, stairway stepladder, extension ladder, wall ladder and two scaffold bases.
—Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2025
To set off biomineralization, the team placed the scaffold in a growing medium with urea and calcium.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scaffold
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Naga Vadrevu, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Researchers can control the density, strength, and structure of the scaffolds by modifying the water content.
—Amy Paturel, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
The adjustable telescoping design allows this five-in-one Werner ladder to be used in five different positions: twin stepladder, stairway stepladder, extension ladder, wall ladder and two scaffold bases.
—Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2025
To set off biomineralization, the team placed the scaffold in a growing medium with urea and calcium.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scaffold
Cite this Entry
“Scaffold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scaffold. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scaffold
noun
scaf·fold
ˈskaf-əld 
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
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