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

That group has promoted the poll as evidence of Democrat David Jolly’s viability in the governor’s race — despite Republicans’ massive voter registration advantage in the state. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Under Institute director Ana Belén Asfura’s vision, projects were also evaluated for uniqueness of vision, subject-matter merit, market readiness, viability and support to date. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

The answers say more about long-term viability than any success rate, because the system that survives at scale isn’t the one that fails least, but the one that fails best. — Shivansh Inamdar, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

With seven weeks to election day, legal experts have cast doubt on the viability of the federal court lawsuit that some Missouri Republicans say still presents a path forward for the redrawn map. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for viability

• ability
• agility
• civility
• debility
• docility
• ductility
• facility
• fertility
• fragility
• futility
• gentility
• hostility

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