viability

noun

Synonyms of viabilitynext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This Starship-to-Starship refueling demonstration is an important milestone for SpaceX and NASA to prove the viability of Starship being refueled in low-Earth orbit for lunar missions. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026 The university and county will now conduct studies, gather community input and examine the long-term viability of the project before committing to renovation, construction and any lease agreement. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Being realistic about the viability of the business post-divorce cannot be overstated, especially if both spouses were involved day to day. — Catherine Shanahan, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Something more than the viability of the timeline, especially since true groundbreaking isn’t expected to begin until June 2027, and beyond what other buildings in the footprint may come down … or go up. — Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Viability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viability. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Medical Definition

viability

noun
plural viabilities
: the quality or state of being viable : the ability to live, grow, and develop

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