sustainable

adjective sus·tain·able \ sə-ˈstā-nə-bəl \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of sustainable

1 : capable of being sustained

2 a : of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged

sustainable techniques

sustainable agriculture

b : of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods

sustainable society

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sustainability

play \sə-ˌstā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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sustainably

play \sə-ˈstā-nə-blē\ adverb

See sustainable defined for English-language learners

Examples of sustainable in a Sentence

a line of argument that is probably not sustainable in a public forum against skilled debaters
has no sustainable claim to the property without a deed or some other document

Recent Examples of sustainable from the Web

While nearly 60,000 ranchers in the Amazon adopted sustainable practices in the last decade, according to government officials, about 330,000 haven’t.

— paulo trevisani, WSJ, "One Small Rancher’s Big Role in Saving Brazil’s Amazon," 19 May 2018
Firth, creative director and founder of Eco-Age, has long been a champion of sustainable fashion practices and worked with director Andrew Morgan on The True Cost, the documentary exploring fast fashion.

— edward barsamian, Vogue, "Livia Firth and Eco-Age Host a Conversation on Sustainable Fashion, With a Film on Tasmania Wool Farming," 5 May 2018
The rest of the friars’ farmland is run by Thomas Cunningham as Mary’s Land Farm, an operation that focuses on growing produce without pesticides, using a sustainable agriculture practice called permaculture.

— yvonne wenger, Washington Post, "Baltimore’s Franciscan Center to farm land in Howard County to help feed the city’s poor," 1 May 2018
City Slicker Farms wants the park to be a paradise for Clawson residents too, a place where people without access to grocery stores selling affordable produce can learn sustainable urban farming practices and discover how to eat healthier.

— andrew simmons, San Francisco Chronicle, "Rodney Spencer and the struggles and rewards of a West Oakland urban farm," 27 Apr. 2018
Like Freelon, she was committed from the start to incorporating sustainable building practices into the Smithsonian’s mission.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "The African American History and Culture Museum Wins Gold for Going Green," 21 Apr. 2018
The label touts its sustainable grazing practices and lack of chemicals or bleaches.

— kim bhasin, Bloomberg.com, "Why a Cashmere Sweater Can Cost $2,000 … or $30," 19 Apr. 2018
The regional style is characterized by modern lines and forward-looking sustainable practices.

— diane daniel, BostonGlobe.com, "The Umbrella House in Sarasota opens for monthly tours," 18 Apr. 2018
Now, Kwong pays special attention to brands with sustainable practices and indeed, those that have more of a botanical and grounded feeling.

— christina perez, Harper's BAZAAR, "How a Supermodel Turned Landscaper Makes Sustainable Fashion Chic," 17 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sustainable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.