French word

envergure

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃vɛʁgyʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounscale

Example

Ce projet a une envergure internationale.

This project is international in scale.

Illustration for envergure (scale)

More examples

La start-up a gagné en envergure après plusieurs contrats importants.

The startup gained scale after several important contracts.

Core concept

A physical span that becomes a measure of how far-reaching, substantial, or ambitious a project or idea is.

Common phrases

  • envergure internationale

    international scale

  • projet de grande envergure

    large-scale project

  • avoir de l'envergure

    be substantial

Similar words

ampleur: The breadth or magnitude of an event or phenomenon.
portée: The range over which an event or statement has an effect.
étendue: The physical or abstract extent of something.
échelle: A scale or level used to measure size or degree.

Definition in French

Grandeur ou dimension d'un ensemble, employée pour qualifier la portée, l'ampleur ou la taille d'un projet, d'une idée ou d'une organisation.

Word origin

The word reflects a nautical origin: Old French enverguer meant "to spread a sail" and was built on vergue, which goes back to Latin virga, "rod."

Usage tips

  • Envergure commonly appears with de, as in d'une certaine envergure or de grande envergure, not with the English preposition of.

Other meanings

  • scopenoun
  • importancenoun
  • wingspannoun

Word lists with this word