ENGLISH
REFERENCE

scope

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈskoʊp// UK //skˈəʊp// scope Academic Archaic Informal

n. the range or limit of what something covers or deals with. It can also mean the opportunity or space to do something.

n. the extent of the area or subject matter that something relevantly encompasses. In technical contexts, it refers to the range within which a variable or identifier is valid and accessible.


SIMPLE

The project is too large in scope for our small team.

CONTEXTUAL

We need to define the scope of the investigation before we start interviewing the witnesses.

COMPLEX

While the initial proposal was narrow, the committee eventually expanded the scope of the study to include the long-term environmental impact on the surrounding coastal communities.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Italian scopo (“purpose”), from Latin scopus (“target”), from Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós), from σκέπτομαι (sképtomai), from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-. Etymologically related to skeptic and spectrum.

Etymology 2

From Latin scopa.

Usage

Often used with the prepositions 'of' or 'for' ('scope of the work', 'scope for improvement').

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference