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

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.

Example Sentences

Perkins believes the debate about the sustainability of AI capex is far from settled.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

“Oil majors see that there’s more money to be made in the supply of fuel than in the production of fuel,” said Tom Berg, director of policy sustainability at SkyNRG, a Dutch SAF startup.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

Bergeron, who is on the Echo Park neighborhood council, hopes Los Angeles can serve as a “beacon in an otherwise scary time in the country” as it tackles affordability, the housing crisis and sustainability issues.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

Overall, there’s a lot to like about SLB at the intersection of global energy sustainability and the age of AI.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

I hardly feel equipped to enter eighth grade, much less become a planetary leader in sustainability.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer