viability
viability — noun
1. the quality of a plan, project, or business of being realistic and likely to suc
the quality of a plan, project, or business of being realistic and likely to succeed when put into practice
Vikram questioned the viability of opening a second café so soon after the first one.
viability of + gerund phrase
The bank's loan officer reviewed the viability of the start-up before approving the funding.
reviewed the viability of + noun phrase
Wei presented market data to prove the viability of his renewable energy project.
The consultant's report raised serious questions about the viability of the merger.
- feasibility
more common in everyday planning; slightly less formal than 'viability'
- practicability
more formal and narrower; focuses on whether something can be done, not whether it will succeed
- workability
less common; emphasizes smooth functioning rather than overall success
- impracticality
the state of being unrealistic or unlikely to work in practical terms
- infeasibility
the state of not being possible or achievable
文法句型
viability of [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Nearly always used in formal or professional contexts such as business, finance, and project planning. The noun is uncountable, so it never takes an article in generic use ('the viability of' rather than 'a viability of').
常見錯誤
2. the capacity of a living organism, cell, or embryo to survive, grow, and develop
the capacity of a living organism, cell, or embryo to survive, grow, and develop normally under suitable conditions
The hospital monitored the viability of the premature baby's lungs around the clock.
Lakan studied how pollution affects the viability of fish eggs in the river.
affects the viability of + noun phrase
Farmers test seed viability by placing them in damp paper towels before planting.
Élise observed how temperature changes affect the viability of butterfly eggs in her experiment.
- survivability
more specific to survival in adverse conditions; narrower in meaning
- vitality
emphasises energy and vigour rather than the bare ability to survive
- life
a simpler but much broader word; 'viability' implies the potential for continued development, not just being alive
- inviability
the state of being unable to survive, grow, or develop normally
文法句型
viability of [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Common in medicine, biology, and agriculture. Frequently modifies nouns such as 'cell', 'seed', 'fetus', or 'tissue'. Unlike sense 1, this sense can appear with a possessive ('the seed's viability').