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

These threats erupted after the Wall Street Journal reported on my life-threatening ectopic pregnancy—a nonviable pregnancy with no heartbeat. —Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025

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

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

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