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
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
Wall Street JournalGetting an informed start now may be essential to future growth and economic viability of the U.S. wine industry.—Gordon W Murchie
Gordon W MurchieExamples of viability in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The 2024 awards season became a watershed moment for horror, showcasing the genre’s viability.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
But the size of the gray market may be fundamentally at odds with its viability.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Some of these Democrats must reassess their own potential viability, which their egos appear to have inflated.
—Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
The tension between street ethics and commercial viability has surfaced repeatedly throughout hip-hop’s history.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for viability
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Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
But the size of the gray market may be fundamentally at odds with its viability.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Some of these Democrats must reassess their own potential viability, which their egos appear to have inflated.
—Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
The tension between street ethics and commercial viability has surfaced repeatedly throughout hip-hop’s history.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for viability
Cite this Entry
“Viability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viability. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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