sustainable
suh-STAY-nuh-buhl
Sustainable (adj) means Able to be maintained or continued over a long period. Example: “Working sixteen hours a day is not sustainable for anyone over the long term.”
adj
1
Able to be maintained or continued over a long period.
"Working sixteen hours a day is not sustainable for anyone over the long term."
"The charity needs a sustainable source of funding so it can keep helping people."
"They're looking for a sustainable business model."
2
Not causing lasting damage to the environment or using up resources faster than they can be replaced.
"Planting new trees for every one we cut is a sustainable way to harvest wood."
"The hotel uses solar panels and other sustainable energy to protect the local environment."
"The farm switched to sustainable fishing practices."
How to use sustainable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAble to keep going long-term, especially without harming the environment or running out of resources.
Common pairings
sustainable energy
sustainable development
environmentally sustainable
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Word forms
- Plural
- sustainables
- Comparative
- more sustainable
- Superlative
- most sustainable
Fill the gap
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Working sixteen hours a day is not _____ for anyone over the long term.
Etymology
From sustain plus the ending -able.
Related words
Rhymes for sustainable
See all rhymes for sustainable →Frequently asked questions
What does “sustainable” mean?
The word “sustainable” means able to be maintained or continued over a long period. In plain terms, able to keep going long-term, especially without harming the environment or running out of resources.
How do you pronounce “sustainable”?
“Sustainable” is pronounced suh-STAY-nuh-buhl (/səˈsteɪnəbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sustainable” in a sentence?
Here is “sustainable” used in a sentence: “They're looking for a sustainable business model.”
What part of speech is “sustainable”?
“Sustainable” is an adjective.
Is “sustainable” a common word?
“Sustainable” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “sustainable” have?
“Sustainable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: able to be maintained or continued over a long period.
What is the difference between "sustainable" and "renewable"?
"Sustainable" means able to be maintained over a long period without using up resources faster than they can be replaced. "Renewable" describes a resource that naturally replenishes, such as solar or wind power, so renewable sources are one way of achieving sustainable use.
When should you use "sustainable" instead of "maintainable"?
Use "sustainable" for something that can carry on over the long term, often with an environmental or economic sense, as in sustainable farming. Use "maintainable" chiefly for things that can be kept in good working order, such as maintainable software or machinery.
What words commonly go with "sustainable"?
"Sustainable" frequently pairs with development, growth, energy, farming, and living. These phrases stress continuing over the long term without exhausting resources or harming the environment.
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