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

Younger generations are eschewing the dirty and difficult work, even despite the chronic lack of other opportunities in Calabria, and the economic viability of the business is increasingly undermined by cheaper charcoal made in modern metal kilns. —Joshua Hughes, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2024

Two decades later, there are many more questions, both in public and private, about the viability of Starliner's propulsion system after irregularities during the vehicle's flight to the space station in June. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 12 Aug. 2024

Nez sees his unopposed status as a sign of people's confidence in his viability as a candidate. —Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 10 Aug. 2024

Then again, if the committee shoves schedule strength to the back burner and leans into overall record for the seeding and at-large selection process, the Trojans would be wholly justified in reassessing the viability of the Notre Dame series. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 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