sustainable
Americanadjective
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capable of being supported or upheld, as by having its weight borne from below.
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pertaining to a system that maintains its own viability by using techniques that allow for continual reuse.
sustainable agriculture. Aquaculture is a sustainable alternative to overfishing.
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able to be maintained or kept going, as an action or process.
a sustainable negotiation between the two countries.
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able to be confirmed or upheld.
a sustainable decision.
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able to be supported as with the basic necessities or sufficient funds.
a sustainable life.
adjective
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capable of being sustained
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(of economic development, energy sources, etc) capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage
sustainable development
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(of economic growth) non-inflationary
Other Word Forms
- nonsustainability noun
- nonsustainable adjective
- sustainability noun
- unsustainable adjective
Etymology
Origin of sustainable
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.
The data was stronger than forecast, "but vastly overstates the sustainable pace of job growth," said Oxford Economics lead US economist Nancy Vanden Houten.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
Both CalPERS and CalSTRS unveiled sustainable investments strategies to increase holdings in low-carbon assets and other climate solutions several years ago, but continue to invest in multinational oil giants such as ExxonMobil and Chevron.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
He says he would normally be "thrilled" to pay staff more, but "the cost increases have got to be sustainable".
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
My key focus is, first of all, to build a company that can exist as an independent company that delivers long-term, durable, sustainable growth.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
“One outfit that morphs at your command. Very sustainable if you could get it to work.”
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
