upscaleadj.
/ˌʌpˈskeɪl/, U.S. /ˌəpˈskeɪl/, /ˈəpˌskeɪl/ U.S.
At the higher end of a (social) scale; superior, of a high quality; ‘up-market’.
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society > society and the community > social class > nobility > aristocracy or upper class > [adjective]
aristocratic1596
select1602
qualified1604
patrician?1614
classical1629
aristocratical1742
ruffle-shirted1805
connected1817
thoroughbred1821
upper1825
eupatrid1833
optimate1846
classy1870
silver-tailed1890
upper-bracket1945
upscale1966
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > [adjective] > superior in rank
highereOE
furtherc1000
superior1483
superordinate1615
precedential1836
upscale1966
1945 Newsweek 2 Apr. 68/2 The Mullikin selling method, which he called ‘upscaling’, aimed to build up the idea that prefabricated houses were rich-looking, comfortable and permanent.]
1966 One Hundred Basic Media Terms Defined (Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osgood Inc. Media Dept.) 15 Downscale is a term used to describe a market or audience with above-average representation at the lower end of the socio-economic scale. Its opposite is ‘upscale’.
1975 New Yorker 1 Dec. 44/1 A lot of advertising people don't think jazz fans have that all-important rage to consume. They don't think the jazz audience is ‘up-scale’ enough.
1977 P. Strevens New Orientations Teaching Eng. xiii. 163 The up-scale lab has all typical facilities, plus full remote control of each student machine.
1983 Chicago Sun-Times 24 Nov. 110 ‘20-20’ generally finishes behind ‘Hill Street’, whose up~scale audience it shares.
1984 Christian Sci. Monitor 2 Mar. 10/4 He cites Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurants as appealing to customers who want a bit more upscale atmosphere.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1966