durable

adjective

du·​ra·​ble ˈdu̇r-ə-bəl 

 also  ˈdyu̇r-

: able to exist for a long time without significant deterioration in quality or value

a durable suitcase

also : designed to be durable

durable goods

durability

ˌdu̇r-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌdyu̇r-

noun

durableness

ˈdu̇r-ə-bəl-nəs 

ˈdyu̇r-

noun

durably

ˈdu̇r-ə-blē 

ˈdyu̇r-

adverb

Did you know?

Something durable lasts a long time, so it's apt that durable comes to us (via Anglo-French) from the Latin verb durare, meaning "to last." Other descendants of durare in English include during, endure, and duration, all of which concern things lasting in one way or another. Durable even has a near synonym in the much rarer perdurable, which combines durare with the prefix per- (meaning "throughout") to create a word that can mean "lasting a very long time or indefinitely" or "eternal."

Choose the Right Synonym for durable

lasting, permanent, durable, stable mean enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established.

lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely.

a book that left a lasting impression on me

permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely.

permanent living arrangements

durable implies power to resist destructive agencies.

durable fabrics

stable implies lastingness because of resistance to being overturned or displaced.

a stable government

Examples of durable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The best everyday pans are ones that are durable and can withstand cooking over and over again. —Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2024

Steve Madden Ruskin Black Leather Boots These genuine leather moto boots are durable and chic for styling with dresses and jeans. —Ali Faccenda, Travel + Leisure, 6 Dec. 2024

And even some genres that have proved to be remarkably durable, such as true crime, have forced producers like Bungalow to get creative as the competition intensifies. —Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024

Visible Cracks and Leaks While the ceramic makeup of toilets should be quite durable, occasionally the ceramics' glazing can fail. —Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin durabilis, from durare to last — more at during

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing durable

• durable press

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

durable

adjective

du·​ra·​ble ˈd(y)u̇r-ə-bəl 

: able to last a long time

durable clothing

durable goods

durability

ˌd(y)u̇r-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

durably

ˈd(y)u̇r-ə-blē 

adverb