viability
C1Formal, Academic, Technical, Business
Definition
Meaning
The ability to work successfully or to continue existing; the state of being capable of living or developing.
The practical feasibility or sustainability of a plan, project, organism, or system over time.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an abstract noun denoting a quality or state. Often implies a threshold or test that must be passed for something to be considered workable or sustainable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal business and academic contexts in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the viability of [NOUN PHRASE]to assess/determine/question [POSSESSIVE] viabilityVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly with 'viability']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to discuss whether a project, company, or product can be profitable and survive in the market.
Academic
Common in biology (fetal viability), economics, and engineering to discuss the sustainability of systems or theories.
Everyday
Less common; used when discussing the realistic chances of plans or ideas.
Technical
Used in medicine, ecology, and project management with precise thresholds (e.g., 'threshold of viability').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team will viability-test the prototype next quarter.
- We need to viability-assess the proposal thoroughly.
American English
- The committee will viability-test the new policy.
- They hired a firm to viability-assess the merger.
adverb
British English
- The project is viably sustainable for the next decade.
- The company can now operate viably in the new market.
American English
- The system can function viably with less funding.
- The plan was viably executed within budget.
adjective
British English
- The viable option was clear after the study.
- They searched for a viable alternative to plastic.
American English
- The only viable solution was to start over.
- Is this business model still viable?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor checked the baby's viability.
- The financial viability of the new cafe is uncertain.
- Scientists study the viability of seeds in cold soil.
- The report questioned the long-term viability of the public transport scheme.
- Before investing, we must assess the project's commercial viability.
- The viability of the peace treaty hinges on the disarmament clause.
- Critics argue that the economic model's viability is predicated on unsustainable growth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'VIA-BILITY' – Is there a viable (possible) 'VIA' (way or path) for it to succeed?
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/HEALTH (A viable plan is a 'healthy' plan; a non-viable project is 'stillborn' or 'dead in the water').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'жизнеспособность' in all contexts; in business, 'feasibility' is often better. Do not confuse with 'probability' (вероятность).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'viability' to mean 'probability' (e.g., 'the viability of rain tomorrow'). Overusing in informal speech where 'chance' or 'possibility' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'viability' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often synonyms. 'Feasibility' often focuses on whether something can be done at all. 'Viability' implies whether it can succeed or be maintained over time, especially in a practical or economic sense.
Yes, especially in biology and medicine (e.g., 'fetal viability' refers to the ability of a fetus to survive outside the womb).
Yes, it is most at home in formal, academic, business, and technical registers. In everyday conversation, words like 'chance', 'workability', or 'possibility' are more common.
'Economic viability' or 'financial viability' are extremely common in business contexts.