sustainability

[suh-stey-nuh-bil-i-tee]

noun

1. the ability to be sustained, supported, upheld, or confirmed.

2. Environmental Science.,  the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance.

   The committee is developing sustainability standards for products that use energy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sustainability¹

sustain + -ability

Example Sentences

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said big brand smaller shops faced the same issues as independent retailers in terms of costs.

From BBC

Football and sustainability do not always go in hand in hand.

From BBC

She adds that these provide a market for customers who value indigenous arts, sustainability and fair trade, and are willing to pay more.

From BBC

While celebrating the launch of gas exports from the facility in April 2025, the energy minister called for "continuous vigilance to guarantee the efficiency, transparency and sustainability of economic benefits for the population".

From BBC

The idea is to promote sustainability by encouraging people to buy fewer goods they will only use occasionally.

From BBC