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

Designed to shift between the elegance of a romantic dress shoe and the attitude of a street sneaker, Asics noted that the piece proposes a sustainable and flexible approach to design. —Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 20 June 2026

Concha argued that democratic socialists like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s efforts to create free childcare and public transportation are not sustainable. —Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2026

These efforts include providing exemptions for affordable unit requirements on new market-rate constructions if needed to spur development, all while simultaneously seeking alternative, sustainable funding sources to create more lower-cost housing, among other incentives. —Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 20 June 2026

Increasingly, many are looking beyond the original hotspots in search of strong infrastructure, a lower cost of living and a quality of life that feels sustainable over the long term. —Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 20 June 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