Tenability

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The characteristic of an idea, argument, or position that makes it capable of being supported or defended logically
2. The state in which a claim or theory can be upheld based on evidence or reasoning
3. The condition that allows a viewpoint or explanation to be reasonably maintained or justified

Etymology: "Tenability" is formed from "tenable" plus the suffix "-ity," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality or state. "Tenable" itself comes from French "tenable," meaning "that can be held," built on the verb "tenir" ("to hold"), which descends from Latin "tenere." The underlying idea is physical: a fortress or position that can be held against attack. Over time the sense moved from holding ground to holding a claim, so that an argument is "tenable" when it can be defended against objections. The noun "tenability" was formed in English by adding "-ity" to "tenable," a pattern English has used for centuries to create abstract nouns from adjectives, such as "stability" from "stable" and "possibility" from "possible." Its meaning therefore follows directly from the adjective: it names the quality of being defensible, rather than the act of holding anything.

Synonyms: validity, soundness, defensibility, justifiability, reasonableness

Antonyms: invalidity, unsoundness, unjustifiability, unreasonableness, unreliability