What does unviable mean?
Unviable means unable to survive, function effectively, or succeed in a practical way. It is commonly used for businesses, projects, systems, technologies, and public policies that lack sufficient resources, economic foundations, technical feasibility, or prospects for long-term success. For example, a business whose costs consistently exceed its potential income may be described as commercially or economically unviable. The word can also apply literally to living organisms or biological material that cannot survive under specified conditions. Its implication is often more definitive than that of “unsustainable”: an unviable option may already be judged incapable of working, whereas an unsustainable one may be working in a way that cannot be maintained. Unviable is common in formal, professional, and technical writing, but it is also readily understood in general discussion. The related noun is unviability, while unviably is a possible adverbial form.
adjectiveIncapable of surviving, functioning effectively, or succeeding. It may describe a living organism, system, business, project, or idea that cannot remain viable or achieve its intended purpose.
- Unable to survive, function, or remain operational.
- Unable to succeed, continue effectively, or achieve practical success.
"The proposed project was economically unviable and could not be justified."
"The new seedlings were unviable in the unusually cold conditions."
"Without additional funding, the research program would remain commercially unviable."
Unviable is the word for plans that look promising on paper but cannot survive contact with reality.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unviable come from?
Unviable was formed in English by combining the negative prefix un- with viable. The latter was borrowed from French viable, from Latin viabilis, meaning “alive” or “able to live,” ultimately derived from vita, “life.” The same Latin root appears in related English words such as vitality and vivify, and in forms such as viability.
Related word forms
How unviable is actually used
Generally formal and widely used in business, economics, science, technology, and public policy. It often describes a business, project, system, or plan whose failure is a matter of practical or financial feasibility.
Easily confused with unviable
Inviable means not enviable or desirable, whereas unviable means unable to survive, function, or succeed.