sustainable

adjective

sus·​tain·​able sə-ˈstā-nə-bəl 

1

: capable of being sustained

sustainable growth

a sustainable business model

And the ratings spike did not prove sustainable for the rest of the evening.

—Brian Steinberg

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

The study reflects a broadening search for more climate-friendly sustainable protein sources.

—Ashley Miznazi

b

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

a sustainable society

a sustainable future

… the most sustainable garment is one that already exists.

—Angela Velasquez

sustainability

sə-ˌstā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

… several boards throughout the state that focus on green building and sustainability.

—Melissa Followell

sustainably

sə-ˈstā-nə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of sustainable

• justifiable

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 on the Web

But, as the report notes, such an approach isn’t sustainable. — Justin Worland, Time, 17 Oct. 2026

That’s understandable to an extent; institutions need to remain sustainable. — Anand Solanki, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

And your central argument is that although most of the world may hope that the war between Iran and the United States will end soon, the low-grade conflict the two sides have been having for months is sustainable and likely to endure. — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Another challenge facing the industry is the need for bulkier vessels to transport sustainable ammonia fuel. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sustainable

• trainable
• ascertainable
• unattainable
• unexplainable
• unobtainable
• unsustainable
• attainable
• explainable
• maintainable
• obtainable