What does scoopful mean?
A scoopful is the quantity of a substance or food that can be held in a scoop. It is especially common when describing ingredients measured with a kitchen scoop, as in a scoopful of flour, rice, sugar, or ice cream. The term may also refer to the contents of a larger scoop, such as one used to serve grain, coal, or soil. In everyday culinary language, the expression suggests an approximate rather than precisely measured amount. Although “scoopful” occurs in both American and British English, it is most frequent in North American usage. The word is related to “scoop,” the utensil or action from which its meaning develops.
nounThe amount of something contained in a scoop, such as a spoonful of flour, sugar, or ice cream.
- An amount of something held in a scoop.
"She added a scoopful of flour to the batter."
"The recipe calls for a scoopful of sugar."
"The vendor put a generous scoopful of gelato into the cone."
Both plural forms are standard; “scoopfuls” is the more common form.
"The recipe requires two scoopfuls of oats."
This modest word has two accepted plurals: scoopfuls and scoopsful.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of scoopful
The word was formed in the 19th century by adding the suffix “-ful” to “scoop,” a word for a hollow utensil used for taking up loose material. “Scoop” comes through Middle English from a Middle Dutch word meaning a small spoon or similar implement. The compound follows the ordinary English pattern of words such as “mouthful” and “handful,” in which “-ful” indicates the amount a container or body can hold.
Related word forms
How scoopful is actually used
Chiefly used in North American English. In informal culinary contexts, a scoopful may be smaller or less precise than a standard spoonful.