durable
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived 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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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.
Durable goods orders have come in slightly better than expected.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026
"Industrial production posted its strongest gain in nearly a year. Durable goods surprised to the upside. Housing starts printed a five-month high. This is a reflationary dataset," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.
From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026
Durable goods production, which is more exposed to tariffs, picked up on month alongside energy and capital goods, Eurostat said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025
Durable and versatile, he averaged 130 reports annually during his years on the NBC broadcast.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 13, 2025
Durable, dūr′a-bl, adj. able to last or endure: hardy: permanent.—ns.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
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.
