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sustainable

suh-STAY-nuh-bul /səˈsteɪnəbəl/

adjectiveB1IELTSTOEFLUPSC

PoliticalEnvironmentalGeneral

Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level; conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.

It implies a long-term perspective—meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

The story behind the word. From the Latin 'sustinere,' meaning 'to hold up' or 'to support.' It combines 'sub-' (from below) and 'tenere' (to hold). It originally referred to physical support, like a pillar holding up a roof.

Word relationships

viable: Viable means something is capable of working successfully; sustainable means it can be kept going long-term.

unsustainable: Not able to be maintained at the current rate or level.

Commonly confused with

durable: Durable means something lasts a long time; sustainable means the system used to create it can last forever.

Word family

sustainability (noun): The quality of being sustainable.
sustain (verb): To maintain or support.

Collocations

sustainable development
sustainable energy
sustainable growth

Example sentences

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Global development goals. (Brundtland Report (Our Common Future))
"The company is moving toward a more sustainable manufacturing process by using recycled plastics." Corporate strategy.

Memory hook

Think of 'sustaining' a 'table'—holding it up so it doesn't collapse. Keep it going.

When not to use

Don't use it to simply mean 'long'; it specifically refers to the ability to continue indefinitely without exhaustion.

Fun facts

The term 'sustainable' in an environmental sense first appeared in a German forestry handbook in 1713.