sustainability

American  

[suh-stey-nuh-bil-i-tee] / səˌsteɪ nəˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the ability to be sustained, supported, upheld, or confirmed.

2. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of sustainability

sustain + -ability

Example Sentences

The larger issue for stocks heading into the second quarter, however, is likely to be the speed and sustainability of the nascent recovery.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

“When it comes to how consumers feel or what they say about sustainability and where they’ll actually spend their money, there’s a huge gap,” she said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

South Ayrshire Council said the decision had not been taken lightly and reflected "significant operational, environmental and financial pressures affecting the long term sustainability of the diving pool".

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

The investment should offer a “catalytic impact” to the voluntary carbon-removal market, said Ella Douglas, Adyen’s global sustainability lead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Understanding the interconnectedness between humans and natural ecosystems is a key element in the quest for panda sustainability.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh