sustainable

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

Updated on: 12 Apr 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

—

sustainability

play \sə-ˌstā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

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

But the last few games — with the Cavaliers the exception — have come against sub-par teams that didn’t stand much of a chance to begin with, and the Sixers current pace is not sustainable through the course of a seven-game series.

— sarah todd, Philly.com, "Sixers say they'll be scary when Joel Embiid returns during playoffs," 7 Apr. 2018
There are also sessions on how to make historic buildings greener and how to make construction more sustainable, said Suber.

— felicia dechter, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Traditional Building Conference Series to head to Oak Park for the first time," 5 Apr. 2018
The rising cost of employee fringe benefits is not sustainable, Gjede said, suggesting that instead of imposing a new tax, the Labor Department could privatize or reduce services.

— stephen singer, courant.com, "Connecticut Labor Department Seeks New Tax To Support Its Staffing Costs," 29 Mar. 2018
Their perfectly roasted birds feature bold flavors and put a new spin on the nourishing and sustainable foods their owners grew up eating.

— caviar, Bon Appetit, "Our Favorite Healthyish Dishes You Can Now Order From Caviar," 27 Mar. 2018
Engineers dedicated to technology and designers dedicated to packaging help Chick-fil-a really stand out among other fast-food joints, while remaining current, fresh, and sustainable.

— Southern Living, "Your Chick-fil-A Order Begins At This Amazing Test Kitchen," 20 Mar. 2018
But legislative leaders in both the House and Senate, and Gov. Bill Walker, say that larger payments are not sustainable.

— nathaniel herz, Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska House majority pushes PFD constitutional amendment plan, ahead of state budget," 9 Mar. 2018
Then, do a little research to figure out which brands, organizations, or restaurateurs are going the extra mile to make that corner of the industry more sustainable and fair.

— esquire editors, Esquire, "How to Be Happy with What You Eat This Year," 30 Jan. 2018
Now's the time to see how sustainable that power can be.

— charlie hatch, Cincinnati.com, "NKU should treat Wright State's visit as a welcome test," 11 Jan. 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.