English · Word Candidate

plateau

/ˈplætəʊ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: plateaus · plateaux · plateauing · plateaued

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A largely level expanse of land at a high elevation; tableland.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A comparatively stable level after a period of increase. (of a varying quantity)

Noun

Examples

Childhood obesity, rising for more than two decades, appears to have hit a plateau, a potentially significant milestone in the battle against excessive weight gain among children.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To reach a stable level after a period of increase; to level off.

Verb

Examples

Mr. [Jensen] Huang is nevertheless correct. Adoption has plateaued.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “plateau” mean?

A largely level expanse of land at a high elevation; tableland.

Is “plateau” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.