Home › Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics › Sustainable Agriculture & Farming › sustainable

sustainable

sus-TAY-nuh-bul /səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl/

adjectiveC1IELTSTOEFLGRE

formalacademicenvironmental

able to be maintained at a certain rate or level without depleting natural resources.

While often used broadly for 'green' practices, in agriculture it specifically refers to systems that can function indefinitely without destroying the land's future productivity.

The story behind the word. The word comes from the Latin 'sub' (up from below) and 'tenere' (to hold). Imagine someone holding a heavy weight above their head; if they can keep it there indefinitely, they are sustaining it. In environmental terms, it means the earth 'holds up' under our usage.

Word relationships

viable: Focuses more on the practical ability to succeed rather than the environmental impact.
renewable: Specifically refers to resources that replenish themselves, like wind or solar.

depleting: Actively using up resources so they cannot be replaced.
untenable: Cannot be maintained or defended in the long run.

Commonly confused with

renewable: Renewable refers to the source (like energy), while sustainable refers to the entire system's balance.

Word family

sustain (verb): to maintain or support
sustainability (noun): the quality of being sustainable

Collocations

sustainable development
sustainable agriculture
sustainable practices

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 policy definition (Brundtland Report, United Nations)
"The farm transitioned to sustainable methods to ensure the soil remained productive for the owner's children." Agricultural practice

Memory hook

Think of a 'sustained' note in music—it's held long and steady without dropping. Hold it up, keep it steady.

When not to use

Avoid using it as a simple synonym for 'good' or 'eco-friendly'; it specifically implies long-term viability.

Fun facts

The term 'sustainable development' was popularized by the 1987 Brundtland Report, which changed how the world views economic growth.