sustainability

sustainability — noun

1. the ability of a system, business, organisation, or practice to keep working or

1.名詞B2
釋義

the ability of a system, business, organisation, or practice to keep working or existing for a long period without failing.

例句

The long-term sustainability of the pension system depends on stable government funding.

sustainability + of + noun phrase — pattern for what continues

Obi questioned whether the current farming methods had any long-term sustainability.

同義詞
  • viability

    focuses on whether something can succeed or survive; slightly more about feasibility

  • continuity

    emphasises uninterrupted existence rather than the conditions needed to keep going

  • durability

    more concrete and physical; less common for abstract systems

反義詞
  • unsustainability

    the condition of being impossible to maintain

  • collapse

    a sudden failure rather than a gradual inability to continue

文法句型

sustainability + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Common in academic, policy, and business writing. The 'of'-phrase specifies what is being sustained: 'the sustainability of the health-care system'. Often modified by 'long-term', 'financial', or 'economic'.

常見錯誤

❌The sustainability of the chair is poor.
✅The chair's durability is poor.
💡'sustainability' is about continuing over time, not about physical sturdiness or build quality.

2. the practice of using natural resources and energy in ways that avoid damaging t

2.名詞B1
釋義

the practice of using natural resources and energy in ways that avoid damaging the environment, so that the earth's ecosystems can stay healthy for future generations.

例句

The company's new packaging plan puts sustainability ahead of short-term profit.

put sustainability ahead of — contrastive pattern

Jiwoo chose a degree in environmental science because she cares deeply about sustainability.

同義詞
反義詞
  • unsustainability

    practices that damage the environment and cannot be maintained

  • wastefulness

    focuses on inefficient use of resources rather than environmental damage

文法句型

sustainability + noun (e.g. sustainability goals, sustainability report)

用法筆記

Very frequently used attributively before other nouns: 'sustainability goals', 'sustainability report', 'sustainability officer'. In business contexts the word is often shorthand for corporate environmental responsibility.

常見錯誤

❌Sustainability only means using less plastic.
✅Sustainability covers energy use, waste, water, supply chains, and long-term resource planning.
💡learners often reduce the concept to a single habit.