durable
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
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.
However, a more durable truce would lower inflation risk and in turn limit the chance of Federal Reserve rate hikes, supporting nonyielding gold, they said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
Whether that optimism is justified, however, will depend on whether the companies can prove their growth stories are durable.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
Music has been a hot topic for movie theaters of late as the industry continues to navigate rough waters amid hopes of a durable post-pandemic recovery.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
That, they argue, is opening space for new political experiments - and for figures like Vijay to test how far star power can translate into durable political authority.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
Real rebels don’t put a secret symbol on something as durable as jewelry.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
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.
