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

Developers must balance market viability with the potential for impact, choosing areas where investments can fill critical housing gaps or enhance neighborhood infrastructure. —Meyer Orbach, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

After 24 weeks, exceptions exist for the absence of fetal viability or to protect the patient’s life or health. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024

De Mello said that NBA teams frequently raise their hands to play in the city, not only for the players and families to experience a new environment but also for their executives to assess the viability of playing there regularly. —Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2024

Adult-skewing dramas have been tougher sells to theatrical audiences these days, and negative reviews can especially cripple their viability. —J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

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