sustainable

[ suh-stey-nuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being supported or upheld, as by having its weight borne from below.
2. 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.

3. able to be maintained or kept going, as an action or process:

   a sustainable negotiation between the two countries.

4. able to be confirmed or upheld:

   a sustainable decision.

5. able to be supported as with the basic necessities or sufficient funds:

   a sustainable life.

sustainable

/ səˈsteɪnəbəl /

adjective

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

   sustainable development

3. (of economic growth) non-inflationary

Other Words From

• sus·taina·bili·ty noun
• nonsus·taina·ble adjective
• nonsus·taina·bili·ty noun
• unsus·taina·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sustainable¹

sustain + -able

Example Sentences

The initiative focused on clean and sustainable goods and included topics such as product development, manufacturing, digital marketing, financial planning, fundraising and pitching retailers, among others.

From Essence.com

Ticonderoga company states the wood used in these pencils is sustainable and comes from responsibly managed sources.

From Popular-Science

Consumer interest in sustainable food increased 23 percent from 2018 to 2019, according to a recent study by Tastewise, a data platform for the food industry.

From Outside Online

Providing some level of protection or sustainable management for these lands could achieve various climate and conservation goals, the researchers argue.

From Science News

While most brands invest a solid amount in paid campaigns from the beginning, it’s not exactly a sustainable strategy.

From Search Engine Watch

There will be a lot of talk about “sustainable” development, but so far that has been elusive.

From The Daily Beast

So can Colombians finally dream of a lasting and sustainable peace in 2015?

From The Daily Beast

But it is too early to tell if the changes he helped unleash will prove sustainable, or if they will broadly serve our citizenry.

From The Daily Beast

One-shot holiday needs can also lead to yearlong sustainable relationships.

From The Daily Beast

That leaves the families who make between that and the sustainable-wage level of $48,000 to struggle paycheck to paycheck.

From The Daily Beast

Niebuhrs inference against a blood connection from Ciceros definition is not sustainable.

From Project Gutenberg

It sounds crazy, and only time will tell whether it proves to be sustainable.

From Project Gutenberg

With every respect for that great lawyer, his argument on this point does not appear sustainable.

From Project Gutenberg

We worked to promote environmentally-sustainable economic growth.

From Project Gutenberg

This year, we must also do more to support democratic renewal and human rights and sustainable development all around the world.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• continual
• continuous
• viable