viable

[ vahy-uh-buhl ]
/ ˈvaɪ ə bəl /

adjective

capable of living.
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.
Botany. able to live and grow.
vivid; real; stimulating, as to the intellect, imagination, or senses: a period of history that few teachers can make viable for students.
practicable; workable: a viable alternative.
having the ability to grow, expand, develop, etc.: a new and viable country.

Origin of viable

1820–30; < French, equivalent to vie life (< Latin vīta) + -able -able

SYNONYMS FOR viable

5 practical, feasible, usable, adaptable.

OTHER WORDS FROM viable

vi·a·bil·i·ty, noun vi·a·bly, adverb un·vi·a·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH viable

feasible viable

Words nearby viable

vi et armis, via, via dolorosa, via media, viability, viable, viaduct, viagra, vial, viand, viangchan

Example sentences from the Web for unviable

British Dictionary definitions for unviable (1 of 2)

unviable
/ (ʌnˈvaɪəbəl) /

adjective

not capable of succeeding, esp financially the pit had proved economically unviable

British Dictionary definitions for unviable (2 of 2)

viable
/ (ˈvaɪəbəl) /

adjective

capable of becoming actual, useful, etc; practicable a viable proposition
(of seeds, eggs, etc) capable of normal growth and development
(of a fetus) having reached a stage of development at which further development can occur independently of the mother

Derived forms of viable

viability, noun

Word Origin for viable

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

Medical definitions for unviable

viable
[ vī′ə-bəl ]

adj.

Capable of living, developing, or germinating under favorable conditions.
Capable of living outside the uterus. Used of a fetus or newborn.

Other words from viable

vi′a•bil′i•ty n.