adjective · academic
sustainable
/səˈsteɪnəbl/sus·TAIN·able
able to continue for a long time without causing damage to the environment or using up resources
Examples
“Sustainable development balances economic growth with environmental protection.”
“They use sustainable farming methods to keep soil healthy.”
“We should support businesses that use sustainable materials.”
Band 8 sentence
“Adopting sustainable agricultural techniques will be crucial to feed a growing population without degrading the land.”
Collocations
- sustainable development
- sustainable practices
Word family
Common mistakes
A sustainable is important for towns→Sustainability is important for towns / Sustainable practices are important for towns
more sustainable development→more sustainable development
Say it for a higher band
5long‑term→6eco‑friendly→7+sustainable
Synonyms
long‑term
Easily confused
renewable
“Solar panels are a renewable energy source, but using them in a way that benefits local communities is part of sustainable development.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Environment & Climate
Learn it with its set