durable goods

American  

plural noun

1. goods, as household appliances, machinery, or sports equipment, that are not consumed or destroyed in use and can be used for a period of time, usually three or more years.

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durable goods British  

plural noun

1. Also called: durables. goods, such as most producer goods and some consumer goods, that require infrequent replacement. Compare disposable goods , perishables

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durable goods Cultural  

1. Manufactured products capable of long utility, such as refrigerators and automobiles.

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Etymology

Origin of durable goods

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

durable goods

U.S. economic data due Friday include durable goods orders for August, released at 8:30 a.m., and the University of Michigan final consumer survey for September, published at 10 a.m.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

Production of durable goods was down 0.5%, with broad-based declines across categories.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Demand for U.S. durable goods jumped more than expected in July, according to Commerce Department data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Treasury yields rose as July durable goods orders rose 1.1%, accelerating from June’s 0.5% revised pace and beating WSJ consensus of 0.5%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

When replacement or repair of these more durable goods becomes necessary, there often is no fund available for the purpose.

From The Good Housekeeping Marriage Book by William F. (William Frederick) Bigelow

Related Words

• consumer durables
• consumer goods