(of living things) capable of normal growth and development
"The embryos showed signs of viability after being transferred to the specialized incubator."
capable of being done in a practical and useful way
"The new business plan was rejected because its financial viability could not be proven under current market conditions."
The property of being viable; the ability to live or to succeed
"The viability of the new startup depends entirely on securing enough funding before its resources run out."
In plain English: Viability means whether something is strong enough to succeed and survive on its own.
"The new business plan depends on finding enough investors to prove its financial viability."
Usage: Avoid using "viability" when you simply mean physical survival, as the term often implies a broader capacity for success in business or projects. It is also more formal than alternatives like "feasibility," which specifically addresses whether something can be done successfully.
Viability comes from the Latin word viable, meaning capable of living or developing, combined with the suffix -ity to form a noun. The term entered English through French and has retained its core sense of being able to survive or succeed since its first recorded use in the 16th century.