durable
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
- durability noun
- durableness noun
- durably adverb
- undurable adjective
- undurably adverb
Etymology
Origin of durable
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin dūrābilis; see dure 2, -able
Explanation
Something that is built to last is durable. Your most durable pair of hiking boots will last you through your trek to the summit of Mount Everest. Anything that's long-lasting, sturdy, or doesn't bend under pressure can be described as durable. You could have a durable relationship with your oldest friend, durable tires on your car, and a durable umbrella — they won't let you down or break. The Latin root of durable is durabilis, which means "lasting or permanent," and comes from durare, "to harden."
Vocabulary lists containing durable
100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
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This Week in Words: December 30, 2017 - January 5, 2018
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This Week in Words: February 9 - 15, 2019
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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.
These durable remains preserve well, but they offer only limited insight into how these animals actually lived.
From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2026
A durable power of attorney, which remains in effect after the principal becomes incapacitated, may access the client’s bank account.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 25, 2026
Other data include the Conference Board’s consumer confidence survey for April on Tuesday, durable goods and housing starts for March on Wednesday, followed by jobless claims Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Nothing like the durable consolations of late-life romance, but headier, more exciting and, in the worst cases, far more damaging.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
But its ghost has proved more durable than Freddy Krueger.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
