inviable
Meaning of inviable: Inviable describes a pregnancy, fetus, or biological tissue that lacks the capacity to survive, develop, or function normally.
Definition of inviable
Inviable means not capable of surviving, developing, or functioning under normal conditions. In clinical use, the word most often describes a pregnancy or fetus that has no realistic potential to continue to a live birth, based on findings such as the absence of a heartbeat at an appropriate stage or other structural findings on examination or imaging.
The word can also be applied outside of pregnancy, for example to a cell, tissue sample, or organ that is not capable of surviving or functioning after removal or injury. In each setting, inviable describes an assessment of survival potential rather than a specific diagnosis or cause.
Determining that something is inviable typically relies on established clinical criteria and may require confirmation through repeated assessment or additional testing, since a single finding is not always conclusive.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Imaging findings were consistent with an inviable pregnancy at the follow-up visit.
Good to know
A pregnancy described as inviable is distinct from one described as at risk; inviability reflects an assessment that ongoing development is not possible, not merely a reduced likelihood.