# scrapping

/ˈskɹæpɪŋ/ (US) · /skɹˈæpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scrapping
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. cancelling a plan

verb · CEFR B2

deciding not to continue with a plan, project, or idea.

For teachers: the act of abandoning or cancelling a project, policy, or plan, often due to its perceived lack of viability.

- The company is scrapping its plans for a new office because of the high costs.
- After months of deliberation, the board decided that scrapping the entire initiative was more cost-effective than attempting to fix the underlying structural flaws.

Usage: Often used in business or political contexts when a decision is reversed.

### 2. discarding for parts

verb · CEFR B2

getting rid of something old, like a car or machine, to use its parts for metal.

For teachers: discarding or breaking down an object, typically machinery or vehicles, to recover metal or other reusable components.

- He is scrapping his old car because the engine finally stopped working.
- The shipyard spent the summer scrapping the decommissioned vessel, carefully separating the steel from the hazardous materials inside.

### 3. fighting

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

having a small, physical fight or a loud argument.

For teachers: engaging in a minor physical fight or a spirited, informal argument.

- The two players were scrapping for the ball near the end of the game.
- The local newspapers reported that the two rival factions were scrapping over minor zoning laws during the town hall meeting.

Teaching tip: This sense is informal and often implies a messy or unorganised struggle rather than a formal battle.

### 4. the act of discarding

noun · CEFR B2

the process of throwing something away or ending a plan.

For teachers: the action or process of discarding something as useless or cancelling a previously established arrangement.

- The scrapping of the new tax law was welcomed by small business owners.
- Environmental groups protested the scrapping of the clean water regulations, arguing that the decision would lead to long-term ecological damage.

## Examples

- The company is scrapping the old rules.
- After the budget cuts, the city council decided on scrapping the plans for the new community center.
- The administration is scrapping the controversial policy in favor of a more moderate approach that addresses the concerns raised by local stakeholders during the public consultation phase.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.