viable

[ vahy-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of living.
2. Physiology.
   1. physically fitted to live.
   2. (of a fetus) having reached such a stage of development as to be capable of living, under normal conditions, outside the uterus.
3. Botany. able to live and grow.
4. vivid; real; stimulating, as to the intellect, imagination, or senses:

   a period of history that few teachers can make viable for students.

5. practicable; workable:

   a viable alternative.

   Synonyms: adaptable, usable, feasible, practical

6. having the ability to grow, expand, develop, etc.:

   a new and viable country.

viable

/ ˈvaɪəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of becoming actual, useful, etc; practicable

   a viable proposition

2. (of seeds, eggs, etc) capable of normal growth and development
3. (of a fetus) having reached a stage of development at which further development can occur independently of the mother

Derived Forms

• ˌviaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• via·bili·ty noun
• via·bly adverb
• un·via·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of viable¹

First recorded in 1820–30; from French, from vi(e) “life” (from Latin vīta; vital ) + -able -able

Word History and Origins

Origin of viable¹

C19: from French, from vie life, from Latin vīta

Example Sentences

However, this can still be a viable bidding strategy for your PPC campaigns.

From Search Engine Watch

From the retailer perspective, there’s more actionable information on a viable sales lead.

From Search Engine Watch

I’ve told the government folks that for the next 20 to 30 years you have no chance of an increased population—I mean a seriously viable population.

From Outside Online

Sharma sees building a DTC brand as a viable career path for those looking to get out of the agency world, he said, as it offers freedom.

From Digiday

But, it’s still a step closer to finding a commercially viable system for long-range charging, which can’t get here soon enough.

From Popular-Science

In the neighborhoods they grow up in, prison is a rite of passage and being a street gangster is a viable career choice.

From The Daily Beast

Second, neither Iraq nor American-backed Syrian rebels can field viable ground forces, at least for some time.

From The Daily Beast

Well, many men do go through difficult patches in their relationships, I suppose, when ‘anyone but her’ seems a viable option.

From The Daily Beast

Fortunately,once projects are proven to be viable, Wall Street rushes in.

From The Daily Beast

Second, building a viable solar industry is as much about financial and policy engineering as it is about electrical engineering.

From The Daily Beast

There is this great difference, that yours is quite viable and that perhaps the day is not far off when it will be adopted.

From Project Gutenberg

There are, of all the possible combinations of organs, only a few viable types—those whose structure is adapted to their life.

From Project Gutenberg

The best sample showed 45% viable pollen; the next best 15% and the rest from O to 5%.

From Project Gutenberg

Under fair storage conditions, the seeds continue viable for three years.

From Project Gutenberg

Without highly viable seed of a good strain, true to type, the best results can not be expected.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• applicable
• feasible
• possible
• usable
• workable