durability

American

[door-uh-bil-i-tee, dyoor-] / ˌdʊər əˈbɪl ɪ ti, ˌdyʊər- /

Also durableness

noun

the ability to last over time, resisting wear, breakage, deterioration, etc..

Those who own this make of car really can't complain, given the high quality, dependability, and durability of their product lines.

Other Word Forms

undurability noun
undurableness noun

Etymology

Origin of durability

First recorded in 1350–1400; Latin dūrābili(s) + -tās noun suffix; see durable ( def. ), -ty ² ( def. )

Explanation

Durability is when something lasts a long time. The durability of your favorite pair of hiking boots keeps them from wearing out even when you've walked many miles in them. Use the noun durability to describe the quality of permanence or strength that keeps something working or holds it together. Your parents' thirty year marriage has durability, and your sturdy old car that keeps on running mile after mile also has durability. The Latin root word, durabilis, means "lasting or permanent," and comes from durare, "to last or harden."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing durability

This Week in Words: January 27 - February 2, 2018

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"Ad Power," "Without Commercials," and "What's Wrong with Advertising"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller, List 5

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Soundly beating earnings expectations isn’t placating investors skeptical of the durability of the frenzied AI data center buildout, which is driving these outsize earnings reports.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

U.S. rates markets were moving from acute escalation risk toward a cautious holding pattern after the U.S.-Iran cease-fire, but confidence in durability remains limited, the strategists said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

But it divided opinion, with some saying the mechanism made keyboards less easy to type on, making it feel as though Apple was "prioritising thinness over durability", said Pickerell.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

It “raises questions about the durability of H&M’s brand re-engagement, particularly as the ‘test’ of new season product was expected to come from March onwards,” they said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

The durability of the empire is compelling evidence that the assets outweighed the liabilities.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023