non-viable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "non-viable" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is not capable of living, functioning, or succeeding, often in contexts like business, biology, or project feasibility. Example: "The proposed plan was deemed non-viable due to lack of funding and support."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After two days spent trying to finalise the plan to tackle non-viable banks.

The Guardian - Business

For the same reason, many UK-based export industries would become non-viable.

The Guardian - Business

Ethidium homodimer is a red fluorophore that stains non-viable cells but cannot penetrate living cells.

Nature

7-AAD (7-amino-actinomycinD, BD Biosciences) staining was used to exclude non-viable cells.

Nature

The minimum income floor is designed to weed out claimants with bogus or non-viable businesses.

The Guardian

Disruption of its function by inhibitors leaves cells non-viable and causes embryonic lethality3,4.

Nature

"Staff feel 100% antagonism towards the plans, which are clinically unsafe, financially non-viable and totally unjust," said Miell.

The Guardian

"I recognize that we're creating a product that is financially non-viable for a lot of people.

The New Yorker

Excessive section 106 tariffs and the affordable homes burden do push many projects into the non-viable basket.

The Guardian

Non-viable and dead cells are strongly labelled and retain their label longer than viable cells, thus indirectly providing a simple method of determining viability and separating viable cells from non-viable cells.

Nature

Any population below this figure is regarded as non-viable, and will eventually succumb to the deleterious effects of inbreeding.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing business models or projects, use "non-viable" to clearly indicate that the endeavor is unlikely to succeed due to fundamental flaws or lack of resources.

Common error

Avoid using "non-viable" loosely; ensure a clear understanding of what specific factors (financial, biological, logistical) make something not capable of functioning or surviving before applying the term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "non-viable" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that they are not capable of sustaining life, functioning effectively, or achieving success. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "non-viable" is a descriptive adjective used to indicate that something is not capable of living, functioning, or succeeding. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various fields, particularly in science, news, and formal business contexts. The phrase serves to negatively assess the potential for success or sustainability. Related terms include "unfeasible" and "unsustainable". When using "non-viable", ensure that the factors contributing to its lack of viability are clearly understood and articulated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unfeasible

Describes something that cannot be done or is not practical, similar to not being viable.

Not feasible

Similar to "unfeasible", indicating that something is not realistically possible.

Unsustainable

Indicates that something cannot be maintained at a certain rate or level, implying it is not viable in the long term.

Not workable

Suggests that a plan or solution is not practical or capable of being implemented.

Not tenable

Indicates that a position or argument cannot be defended or maintained, thus lacking viability.

Inoperable

Refers to something that is not functioning or capable of operating, often used in medical or technical contexts.

Unsurvivable

Describes a situation or condition where survival is impossible, making it not viable for life.

Unserviceable

Describes something that is not in working order and cannot be used, similar to being not viable.

Unprofitable

Implies that a business or venture is not making money and therefore not economically viable.

Doomed

Suggests that something is certain to fail or come to an end, lacking long-term viability.

FAQs

How to use "non-viable" in a sentence?

You can use "non-viable" to describe something that is not capable of living, functioning, or succeeding. For example, "The proposed plan was deemed "non-viable" due to lack of funding and support."

What can I say instead of "non-viable"?

You can use alternatives like "unfeasible", "unsustainable", or "not workable" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "non-viable" or "unviable"?

"Non-viable" is the more commonly accepted and grammatically correct term. "Unviable" is less frequent and may be considered non-standard.

What's the difference between "non-viable" and "inoperable"?

"Non-viable" generally refers to something that cannot survive or function effectively in a broader sense, while "inoperable" specifically refers to something that is not able to be used or is out of service, often in a medical or mechanical context.