viability

noun

vi·​a·​bil·​i·​ty ˌvī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

: the quality or state of being viable: such as

a(1)

: the ability to live, grow, and develop

the viability of seeds under dry conditions

(2)

: the capability of a fetus to survive outside the uterus

fetal viability

b

: the ability to function adequately

The viability of lymphocytes serially harvested from stored bank blood …

—Biological Abstracts

c

: the ability to succeed or be sustained

This year's market turmoil had called into question the viability of the investment-banking business model …

—Wall Street Journal

Getting an informed start now may be essential to future growth and economic viability of the U.S. wine industry.

—Gordon W Murchie

Examples of viability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, because of these strengths, their viability depends enormously upon what kind of data they have been trained on. —Maria Williams, USA Today, 13 May 2025

Those problems persisted Saturday during a 36-pitch appearance that prompted some questions about McCullers’ viability within the Astros’ rotation. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 11 May 2025

The flight will test Neutron's reentry capabilities and the rocket's viability for the AFRL and Department of Defense's (DOD's) global point-to-point cargo transportation objectives. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 9 May 2025

Seed packets provide insight on viability and germination rates. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for viability

• affability
• audibility
• bistability
• capability
• changeability
• contractility
• credibility
• culpability
• disability
• disutility
• durability
• fallibility

Medical Definition

viability

noun

vi·​a·​bil·​i·​ty ˌvī-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

plural viabilities

: the quality or state of being viable : the ability to live, grow, and develop