Meaning & use
scaffolding
A temporary structure of poles and platforms used to support workers and materials during construction or repair.
See it in a sentence
Workers climbed the scaffolding to repaint the top floor of the building.
The old church was covered in scaffolding while its roof was being restored.
A note on using this word
In education, scaffolding is also used figuratively to describe temporary support that helps a learner master a skill.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
Temporary support or guidance given to a learner, gradually removed as they gain independence.
The teacher provided scaffolding through sentence starters until students could write essays alone.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “scaffolding”, then compare your use with the examples above.