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 same logic existed across China’s approach to semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, robotics, telecommunications, renewable energy, critical minerals, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. — Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026

Fossil-free fertilizer, renewable-hydrogen ammonia that European producers now make at industrial scale, could sharply reduce farmers' exposure to gas prices and geopolitical chokepoints. — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

This, the company explains, should yield between 350,000 and 400,000 gigajoules of renewable natural gas each year. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026

While recycling is a mathematically obvious response to the finite, non-renewable nature of many resources, the economic math is often challenging. — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 31 July 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