scaffolding

[ skaf-uhl-ding, -ohl- ]

noun

1. 1. a system of temporary structures having platforms to support workers and materials during the construction, repair, or decoration of a building:

      The scaffolding on the cathedral is finally coming down, and the workers can move on.

   2. materials for building such structures:

      We sell aluminum scaffolding to clients all over the country.

   3. the act or process of building such structures:

      During the scaffolding of the building complex, a specially designed lift carried all the pieces to their places.

2. Education.
   1. a method of instruction in which the learner is provided with gradually reduced support in the application of a new skill until they can demonstrate it independently: the mastered skill then provides the basis for acquiring the next new skill in a similar way:

      Through careful scaffolding, my students learned to persevere and use a range of strategies to solve math problems.

   2. the preparation or design of learning materials for use with this method:

      This grading approach requires the careful and strategic scaffolding of lesson plans and assignments.

3. anything that forms a support or basis for something else:

   The general framework of subtasks provides a scaffolding for the more complex computational tasks.

adjective

1. relating to or involving raised platforms or their construction:

   A variety of different scaffolding materials are available for your building project.

   The fair is aimed at reps from companies that regularly hire scaffolding contractors.

2. Education. relating to, involving, or intended for a method of teaching skills by giving the learner gradually reduced support in applying a new skill until they can demonstrate it independently, after which it becomes the basis for learning the next skill:

   Some scaffolding exercises were given to students to strengthen their understanding.

scaffolding

/ ˈskæfəldɪŋ /

noun

1. a scaffold or system of scaffolds
2. the building materials used to make scaffolds

Word History and Origins

Origin of scaffolding¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English skaf(f)aldyng; equivalent to scaffold + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Meta’s Threads, which it built on the scaffolding of Instagram, reports 275 million in any given month.

From Slate

Put simply, Ho has provided intellectual scaffolding to Trump’s promise to abolish birthright citizenship by executive order.

From Slate

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s new David Geffen Galleries will open to the public in April 2026, the museum announced Friday as scaffolding is coming down around the Peter Zumthor-designed building, revealing the most expansive view yet of the 900-foot-long, poured concrete structure spanning Wilshire Boulevard.

From Los Angeles Times

It's deeply tied to the larger political project that Vance, far more than Trump himself, is deeply enmeshed in: Building the pseudo-intellectual scaffolding to justify fascism.

From Salon

Charli’s stage setup was minimal — no dancers, no band, just Charlotte Aitchison alone on some scaffolding and a big LED rig.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• scaffold
• stage