maßstabsgetreues

Maßstabsgetreues is the inflected form of the German adjective maßstabsgetreu, meaning faithful to scale or to scale. It is used to describe representations, drawings, or models whose dimensions correspond accurately to a defined size relation to the original object. The term is common in technical, architectural, engineering, model-making, and cartographic contexts, where preserving proportion is essential.

In practical use, maßstabsgetreues appears as an attributive adjective before a neuter singular noun with an indefinite article, for example: ein maßstabsgetreues Modell. With a definite article, the form changes to das maßstabsgetreue Modell. Plural forms include maßstabsgetreue Modelle (indefinite) or die maßstabsgetreuen Modelle (definite). The same base adjective also describes feminine and masculine nouns with appropriate endings, following standard German declension rules.

Originating from Maßstab (scale, standard) and treu (faithful, true), maßstabsgetreu conveys that the represented object preserves the size relationship defined by a specific scale, such as 1:50 or 1:100. The concept is closely related to other terms describing accuracy of proportion, including maßstabsgerecht (scale-appropriate) and maßstäblich (in a scaled, proportionate manner). In practice, achieving maßstabsgetreues representations is crucial for design verification, manufacturing, presentation, and planning where fidelity to real-world dimensions affects usability, fit, and interpretation.

See also related topics: scale models, technical drawing, scale (cartography), 3D printing, and not-to-scale in contrast phrases.