small batch

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Made in limited quantities at a time, often with more care than mass production.

   Grammar: Usually hyphenated before a noun: small-batch bourbon.

   Patterns

   • small-batch something

   The shop sells small-batch hot sauce made by a local family.

   She prefers small-batch soap because each bar is made by hand.

   A small-batch brewery opened on our street.

2. 2nouncountable

   A limited amount of something produced in one go, such as a bake or brew.

   Grammar: Countable: make a small batch of cookies.

   Patterns

   • a small batch of something

   I made a small batch of jam to test the recipe.

   The factory ran a small batch before starting full production.

Common combinations

small-batch coffee

We buy small-batch coffee from a roaster in town.

small-batch distillery

The small-batch distillery offers tours.

make in small batches

The bakery makes bread in small batches.

small-batch production

Small-batch production keeps quality high.

small-batch ice cream

Small-batch ice cream costs more but tastes richer.

Synonyms and how they differ

artisan

Artisan stresses handmade skill, while small batch focuses on limited quantity.

craft

Craft is a broader marketing word for handmade or independent products, not necessarily limited in amount.

limited-run

Limited-run suggests a fixed total that will not be repeated, while small batch can be made again.

boutique

Boutique implies a small, stylish business more than the size of one production run.

Opposites

Word family

batch noun

a group of things made together

batch verb

to group into batches

batch production noun

making goods in groups

Commonly confused: small batch or small-scale?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “small batch”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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