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

Chander-Scott was eventually freed after an autopsy determined that the fetus was nonviable and stillborn. —Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 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

This type of pregnancy is nonviable and may be life-threatening if it is not treated. —Corey Whelan, Verywell Health, 24 Jan. 2025

The doctors informed her that the fetus was nonviable and would die, either before or shortly after delivery, the lawsuit said. —Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 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