feasibility
fee-zuh-BIL-ih-tee
/ˌfiːzəˈbɪlɪti/
The state or degree of being easily or conveniently done; practical viability.
Feasibility measures whether a project is practically possible given the constraints of time, budget, and technology.
The story behind the word. Traces back to the Old French word 'faisable', meaning 'doable' or 'suitable for making,' which in turn comes from the Latin 'facere' (to do or make). It is the ultimate test of whether a grand, poetic idea can survive the cold, hard reality of execution.
Word relationships
- viability: Viability emphasizes whether a project can survive and sustain itself long-term, while feasibility focuses on whether it can be done in the first place.
- practicability: Practicability is almost identical, but feasibility is much more common in corporate and financial contexts.
- impossibility: Impossibility means something cannot happen under any circumstances, while low feasibility means it is highly impractical.
Commonly confused with
- possibility: Possibility means something can happen, while feasibility means it is practical and likely to succeed given current resources.
Word family
- feasible (adjective): Possible and practical to do easily.
- feasibly (adverb): In a practical or possible manner.
Collocations
- feasibility study
- economic feasibility
- technical feasibility
- assess the feasibility
Example sentences
- "We must conduct a feasibility study before committing funds to the high-speed rail project." Project Planning
- "The researchers questioned the feasibility of colonizing Mars within the next decade." Scientific Research
Memory hook
Feasibility is checking if a project is 'easily doable' (feasible). Checking if it is easily doable.
When not to use
Do not use to describe simple, everyday tasks (e.g., the 'feasibility' of washing the dishes is rarely questioned).
Fun facts
- A standard corporate 'feasibility study' evaluates five areas: Technology, Economics, Legal, Operational, and Scheduling (often remembered as TELOS).
Related words
Explore more words
actionable, usability, implementation, resourceful, sustainability, Connectivity
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