nonviable
UK[nɒnˈvaɪəbl̩]US[nɑːnˈvaɪəbl̩]
adj
Not capable of living, growing, or developing successfully.
adj
Not capable of working, functioning, or being carried out successfully; not feasible.
Morpheme Breakdown
non
viable
non
not
viable
capable of living
Etymology
The word "nonviable" is a modern English formation built upon the existing adjective "viable." "Viable" entered English from French in the early 19th century, tracing back to the Latin vita, meaning "life," which itself originates from the Proto-Indo-European root gʷei̯h₃-, meaning "to live." The prefix "non," a straightforward negative from Latin, was attached to create a precise antonym. The logic of the word is transparently literal: "not" plus "able to live," which extended from biological contexts to describe ideas, plans, or systems that cannot survive or succeed.
Analysis
Structure: non (not) + viable (capable of living)
- non: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "not." It functions as a negative particle.
- viable: An adjective of French and Latin origin, from vie (life). It functions as the core adjective meaning "capable of life or success."
Examples
The medical team determined the fetus was nonviable.
Without a steady funding source, the business plan is nonviable.
The proposed solution was deemed nonviable due to its excessive cost.