What does sustainability mean?
Sustainability means the capacity to continue, develop, or meet needs over time without exhausting resources or damaging the systems that make that continuation possible. The term is especially associated with environmental sustainability, which concerns the responsible use of natural resources, the reduction of waste and emissions, and the preservation of ecosystems. It also appears in economic and social contexts, where it describes businesses, communities, or policies that can remain viable while meeting present needs. In its broadest sense, sustainability asks whether current practices can endure without reducing future choices or opportunities. The concept is closely linked to sustainable development: progress that meets present needs while preserving environmental, social, and economic well-being for future generations. Although the word can be used loosely, its strongest modern meaning involves balancing immediate benefits with the long-term health of people, communities, and the environment.
nounThe quality or condition of being able to continue over time without depleting resources or undermining essential systems. In public, environmental, and economic contexts, it often refers to practices that meet present needs while preserving environmental, social, and economic viability for future generations.
- The capacity of a system, practice, or activity to continue over time without damaging the conditions on which its long-term viability depends.
- The principle of managing resources and development so that present needs can be met without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs.
- The quality of being able to be maintained or continued, especially in relation to economic, social, or environmental systems.
"The company is investing in renewable energy as part of its long-term sustainability strategy."
"Reducing food waste is an important part of environmental sustainability."
"The report examines the sustainability of the country's energy system over the next several decades."
"Urban planners are considering the long-term sustainability of public transport."
Usually treated as a mass noun and not pluralized; the plural is rare and appropriate only when referring to distinct sustainable practices, systems, or outcomes.
"The researchers compared the sustainabilities of farming methods in several different climates."
Sustainability is the idea that progress should leave enough behind for the next generation to keep going.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sustainability come from?
The word derives from sustain, which comes through Old French from the Latin sustinere, meaning “to hold up” or “to support.” The suffix -ability is attached to the related stem sustain, expressing the capacity to be sustained. The abstract noun sustainability became established in the modern period and was later widely applied to environmental, economic, and social questions, especially in discussions of long-term resource use.
Related word forms
How sustainability is actually used
The word is most common in environmental, economic, and social-policy discussions. It can be used broadly and sometimes neutrally, but in contemporary usage it often carries an implication of responsible long-term resource management.