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

Failure to observe these mandates would result in sanctions that would severely impact these firms’ practice of law and business viability. —Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

Born at only 23 weeks gestation — the edge of viability — the baby girl experienced a hemorrhage within the ventricles of her brain. —ProPublica, 12 June 2025

If Democrats as a whole, or Newsom specifically, refuse to change course, the party will remain in the political wilderness, while Newsom’s viability in a general election will suffer significantly. —Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 12 June 2025

At the same time, crypto cash has become a sign of viability as the primary field for 2026 begins to take shape. —David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 9 June 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