sustainable

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

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Examples: sustainable in a Sentence

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

Here’s what might not be sustainable: Closer Edwin Diaz is on pace for 86 appearances.

— bill shaikin, latimes.com, "Three up, three down: Paul Goldschmidt has awoken; all six division winners could repeat," 16 June 2018
Bilhartz said the McHaneys are simply looking to sell produce to make their market garden sustainable, unencumbered by overreaching government rules.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Texas couple won’t abide by state’s definition of a pickle," 31 May 2018
The company as a whole has pledged to make its packaging more sustainable by 2025.

— sarah gray, Fortune, "McDonald's Shareholders Vote to Keep Plastic Straws, Despite Activist Demands," 24 May 2018
All videos had to include the impact population growth had on the issue and at least one idea for a sustainable solution.

— alec johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Shorewood Intermediate School students win international video contest on global population," 21 May 2018
The film office would use that time to conduct a study of the program's true economic impact and planned to use its research to make the incentive more sustainable going forward.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Even Kentucky's film office can't justify losing millions to filmmakers," 17 May 2018
While that lack of access has led to creative problem solving in Detroit, DIY groups are ultimately not a sustainable solution for an entire state.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Ambitious Plan Would Bring Statewide Public Broadband to Michigan," 8 May 2018
Lawmakers did tweak it with changes to the rosy economic projections Ducey relied on to make funding more sustainable.

— Washington Post, "Arizona teachers rally as funding vote nears to end strike," 3 May 2018
Ojakian and his staff came up with the merger plan to save $28 million in an effort to make the financially ailing colleges more sustainable.

— kathleen megan, courant.com, "CSCU President Says He Won't Resign And He Will Continue To Pursue College Merger," 1 May 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.