sustainable

[ suh-stey-nuh-buh l ]

/ səˈsteɪ nə bəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sustainable ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

capable of being supported or upheld, as by having its weight borne from below.

pertaining to a system that maintains its own viability by using techniques that allow for continual reuse: sustainable agriculture. Aquaculture is a sustainable alternative to overfishing.

able to be maintained or kept going, as an action or process: a sustainable negotiation between the two countries.

able to be confirmed or upheld: a sustainable decision.

able to be supported as with the basic necessities or sufficient funds: a sustainable life.

Nearby words

sussed, sussex, sussex spaniel, sustain, sustainability, sustainable, sustainable agriculture, sustainably, sustained yield, sustained-action tablet, sustained-release

Origin of sustainable

sustain + -able

Related forms

sus·tain·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·sus·tain·a·ble, adjectivenon·sus·tain·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·sus·tain·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sustainable

There will be a lot of talk about “sustainable” development, but so far that has been elusive.
Goodbye, Bahamas. Hello, Havana!|Clive Irving|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So can Colombians finally dream of a lasting and sustainable peace in 2015?
Did The U.S.-Cuba Deal Help Drive A Rebel Ceasefire in Colombia?|Richard McColl|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Islanders calling for sustainable tourism options may be too late.
Uncovering the Secrets of St. Kitts|Debra A. Klein|June 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Frankly speaking, we do not see any other way for sustainable development of the Ukrainian state other than a federal state.
Putin Can Take Ukraine Without an Invasion, and Probably Will|Jamie Dettmer|April 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They might actually have a sustainable business model if that were the case.
‘Is It Really News?': Cable Journos Squirm Over Flight 370 Overload|Lloyd Grove|March 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It sounds crazy, and only time will tell whether it proves to be sustainable.
Makers|Cory Doctorow
Niebuhrs inference against a blood connection from Ciceros definition is not sustainable.
Ancient Society|Lewis Henry Morgan
This year, we must also do more to support democratic renewal and human rights and sustainable development all around the world.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various

British Dictionary definitions for sustainable

sustainable

/ (səˈsteɪnəbəl) /

adjective

capable of being sustained

(of economic development, energy sources, etc) capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damagesustainable development

(of economic growth) non-inflationary

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sustainable

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of sustainable

Related forms

Examples from the Web for sustainable

British Dictionary definitions for sustainable

sustainable

adjective