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

This can be the difference between financial viability and closure. —Pamela Campos, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026

With Rice’s emergence and his viability against left-handed pitching, Goldschmidt’s value to the roster has taken a hit. —Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026

But both events were canceled this year, making the return of Sick New World on Saturday — to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on Las Vegas Boulevard — an indicator of the viability for massive rock events of this ilk in the area. —Lina Lecaro, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2026

The system reduces energy costs for hydrogen production while enabling the co-production of chemical feedstocks, thereby enhancing the economic viability of green hydrogen. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 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