viability

noun

vi·​a·​bil·​i·​ty ˌvī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce viability (audio)
: 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
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However, because of these strengths, their viability depends enormously upon what kind of data they have been trained on. Maria Williams, USA Today, 24 May 2025 Okutama's population is down two-thirds from its 15,000 postwar peak, young people have moved closer to the city center and houses lie empty, raising questions as to the railway line's viability. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 Charter sector leaders had said a change to that definition would jeopardize their viability, given state constitutional bans on public funding for private schools. Sophie Hills, Christian Science Monitor, 22 May 2025 The failure of one of Skid Row’s largest homeless housing providers represents a dire warning for the viability of supportive housing in Los Angeles, according to a new report on the organization’s demise. Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for viability

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of viability was in 1837

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Cite this Entry

“Viability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viability. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Medical Definition

viability

noun
vi·​a·​bil·​i·​ty ˌvī-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce viability (audio)
plural viabilities
: the quality or state of being viable : the ability to live, grow, and develop

More from Merriam-Webster on viability

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