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

The DXY dollar index extended gains after U.S. durable goods orders exceeded expectations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Investors wanting to anticipate major economic shifts or downturns should not focus on the monthly data or even GDP releases, but focus on a handful of components, such as residential investment and durable goods.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

So-called core orders for durable goods climbed 0.6% in December, capping off the biggest annual increase in business investment in three years.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

Yet increases appeared to be stronger than normal for January for electronics, appliances and other durable goods, said UBS economist Alan Detmeister.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Continued control of consumer credit will help to reduce the pressure on prices of durable goods and will also prolong the period during which the backlog demand will be effective.

From State of the Union Address by Truman, Harry S.

Related Words

• consumer durables
• consumer goods