renewable

adjective

re·​new·​able ri-ˈnü-ə-bəl 

-ˈnyü-

1

: capable of being renewed

renewable contracts

2

: capable of being replaced by natural ecological cycles or sound management practices

renewable resources

renewability

ri-ˌnü-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

-ˌnyü-

noun

renewable noun

renewably

ri-ˈnü-ə-blē 

-ˈnyü-

adverb

Examples of renewable in a Sentence

a renewable life insurance policy

Forests are renewable natural resources, but they must be treated with care.

Wind and water are renewable fuel sources.

Recent Examples on the Web

The university is exploring geothermal energy and plans to incorporate a range of renewable sources to further diversify its energy mix. —April Roach,tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026

Iowa is the nation's largest ethanol producer, using about half the annual corn crop to make the renewable fuel. —Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026

Central bank purchases of gold have also reached record levels, while silver's industrial applications in renewable energy and technology continue expanding. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

Critics of phasing out natural gas argue that much of the electricity on the grid comes from natural gas, but proponents say renewable energy is making up a larger share. —Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for renewable

• chewable
• doable
• viewable
• nonrenewable
• reviewable

Kids Definition

renewable

adjective

re·​new·​able ri-ˈn(y)ü-ə-bəl 

1

: capable of being renewed

2

: capable of being replaced by natural ecological cycles or sound management procedures

renewable resources like water, wildlife, forests, and grasslands