viable

American  

[vahy-uh-buhl] / ˈvaɪ ə bəl /

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.

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viable British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• unviable adjective
• viability noun
• viably adverb

Etymology

Origin of viable

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

Explanation

When something is viable, it has the ability to grow or function properly. A viable seed can develop into a plant, while a viable company has the resources to succeed. The adjective viable refers to something able to function properly and even grow. It is made up of the Latin root vita, which means "life," and the ending -able, which means "to be possible." In terms of science or botany, when a plant is viable it can live and flourish in an environment such as a cactus in the desert. Consider also the Wright brothers, who were the first to develop a viable airplane after many tries and spectacular failures.

Example Sentences

“He’s not crazy, he only pretends to be” isn’t a viable defense in the real world.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

Oman, which was mediating between the two sides just before the outbreak of war, said a viable deal was on the table.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

That includes availability of insurance for the transiting ships, as well as “confidence” that transiting the strait would be viable for the two weeks of the cease-fire and beyond, he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Instead, the Tegna unit must continue to operate independently as “an ongoing, economically viable, and active competitor,” the judge wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Bernabe saw no leaders; he had no idea how folks might get themselves together and forge viable new lives.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• applicable
• feasible
• possible
• usable
• workable