sustainability
Americannoun
-
the ability to be sustained, supported, upheld, or confirmed.
-
Environmental Science. the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance.
The committee is developing sustainability standards for products that use energy.
Etymology
Origin of sustainability
Explanation
"Sustain" means to last over time, so sustainability is the ability of something to last. As a civilization, we are concerned about the sustainability of our planet. Sustainability became a big idea after people began to realize that we were using up our natural resources, so you’re most likely to come across the word when you’re reading about recycling and energy use. If you hear someone talking about sustainability in the context of energy, they’re probably talking about alternatives to oil or coal — both of which will run out in the future. A sustainable source of energy is something that's always there — like water or wind.
Vocabulary lists containing sustainability
Human Geography - Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Human Geography - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ecology - Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“Gold’s ability to rally despite historically elevated long-end yields suggests investors are looking beyond the traditional opportunity-cost relationship and focusing instead on the sustainability of government borrowing,” Hansen said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
The canal operator said that "lower than forecast rainfall in the canal's watershed" called for measures to bolster the "long-term sustainability" of the waterway.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
From their similar visions a decade ago, Transit and Unnamed were born separately, and have taken very different paths to sustainability.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Ian Jopson, director of sustainability at NATS, said it should be "pretty much business as usual using existing procedures for the operators on the North Atlantic".
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Mom said he went there on vacation one time, instead of going to give lectures on sustainability.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
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.
