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

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

New orders for computers and related products jumped 3.1% in June, the government said Monday in its monthly report on durable goods.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

Demand for U.S. durable goods rose 0.3% in June to $334.8 billion, following a 4% decrease in May.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected a 4% contraction in durable goods orders for May.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 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