Definition of durable
: able to exist for a long time without significant deterioration in quality or value a durable suitcase; also : designed to be durable durable goods
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
durable was our Word of the Day on 12/03/2015. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Recent Examples of durable from the Web
-
This longevity might make the Missouri breeding and stocking program more durable.
-
In the 1990s, however, a consensus emerged among scholars that democratic countries, rather than being fickle partners, were actually quite good at making durable commitments.
-
Armstrong led DHW for 11 years, its longest-serving head, and retires June 30 as the most durable current director of a state department.
-
Spending on non-durable goods such as clothing was up a solid 0.6 percent, and spending on services such as utilities grew a moderate 0.3 percent.
-
Moisture-resistant teak is a solid choice for a durable cutting board, and the materials for this handsome edge grain model are all sourced from sustainable plantations.
-
Park officials said the M10+50 product is a durable, long-lasting solution designed to stabilize the trail surface and cut maintenance costs, while costing less than concrete or asphalt.
-
The April downturn was the first since durable goods orders fell 4.6% in November.
-
Friday's report from the Labor Department portrayed a job market that remains durable 7½ years after the recovery from the Great Recession began.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'durable'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Something "durable" lasts a long time, so it's no surprise that the word comes to us, via Anglo-French, from the Latin verb durare, meaning "to last." Other descendants of "durare" in English include "during," "endure," and "durance" (which now mostly turns up in the phrase "in durance vile," a fancy way of saying "in prison"). "Durable" even has a near synonym in the much rarer "perdurable," which combines "durare" with the prefix per- (meaning "throughout") to create a word that can mean "lasting a very long time or indefinitely" or "eternal."
Origin and Etymology of durable
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin durabilis, from durare to last — more at during
First Known Use: 14th century
Synonym Discussion of durable
DURABLE Defined for English Language Learners
durable
playDefinition of durable for English Language Learners
-
: staying strong and in good condition over a long period of time
DURABLE Defined for Kids
durable
playDefinition of durable for Students
: able to last a long time durable furniture
Learn More about durable
-
Spanish Central: Translation of durable Nglish: Translation of durable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of durable for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up durable? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!