sustainability

The ability to sustain something. A means of configuring civilization and human activity so that society, its members and its economies are able to meet their needs and express their greatest potential in the present, while preserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems, planning and acting for the ability to maintain these necessary resources for future generations. The ability to sustain a business in the long term, which is a state that is partly dependent on, but broader than, profitability today or in the short term; it involves aspects of a plausible path toward eventual profitability (as applies to a startup) and ecologic sustainability (for example, the long-term dependence of the timber/lumber industry on forest preservation and renewal, or of fisheries on viable fish stocks).

How to use

The term 'sustainability' is commonly used in formal and professional contexts, particularly in discussions related to environmental policy, business strategy, and urban planning. A notable grammatical nuance is that 'sustainability' is often used as an uncountable noun, which can lead to errors such as using it in plural forms or with indefinite articles. For instance, it's more accurate to say 'The company prioritizes sustainability in its operations' rather than 'The company has many sustainabilitys.'