nonviable

adjective

non·​vi·​a·​ble ˌnän-ˈvī-ə-bəl 

: not viable : not capable of living, growing, developing, or functioning successfully

nonviable cells

a nonviable solution

… states that adopted the insurance reforms into law might find their markets nonviable without the federal subsidies and mandates.

—Timothy Jost

Examples of nonviable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Such pregnancies are nonviable and can be fatal to the mother. — Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2025

The vet team amputated nonviable tissue from the tegu's tongue. — Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026

The pregnancy is nonviable, and can be life-threatening if not removed. — Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 19 June 2025

But if a planning pause was also directed, that could cause offensive options to become stale and therefore nonviable. — Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

nonviable

adjective

non·​vi·​a·​ble -ˈvī-ə-bəl 

: not capable of living, growing, or developing and functioning successfully

nonviable embryos