Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Capable of living, growing, or developing successfully: Describes something (like a fetus, seed, or organism) that has the potential to live and develop normally under normal conditions.
   • Capable of working, functioning, or succeeding; practical and feasible: Describes an idea, plan, system, or business that is capable of being done, sustained, or developed successfully with the available means and circumstances.

Usage Examples

• Biological/Physical Context:
  • The doctors confirmed the fetus was viable. (The doctors confirmed the fetus was capable of life.)
  • Only viable seeds will germinate in the spring. (Only seeds capable of growth will germinate in the spring.)
• Practical/Feasibility Context:
  • After reviewing the budget, the committee agreed the project was viable. (After reviewing the budget, the committee agreed the project was capable of succeeding.)
  • We need a viable solution to this problem. (We need a practical and workable solution to this problem.)

Advanced Usage

• "Economically viable": Financially sustainable or profitable.
  • The startup became economically viable within two years. (The startup became financially sustainable within two years.)
• "Politically viable": Having a realistic chance of being accepted or implemented within a political system.
  • The proposed policy is not politically viable in the current climate. (The proposed policy does not have a realistic chance of being accepted in the current climate.)
• "Viable alternative/option": A realistic and workable alternative.
  • Solar power is a viable alternative to fossil fuels. (Solar power is a realistic and workable alternative to fossil fuels.)

Variants and Related Words

• Viability (noun): The state of being viable; ability to live, grow, or succeed.
  • The viability of the new business model is still being tested. (The ability of the new business model to succeed is still being tested.)
• Nonviable (adjective): Not viable; incapable of living, growing, or succeeding.
  • The nonviable seeds were discarded. (The seeds incapable of growth were discarded.)

Synonyms

• Feasible: Possible and practical to do easily or conveniently.
• Workable: Capable of being carried out or of working successfully.
• Sustainable: Able to be maintained or continued over the long term.
• Practicable: Able to be done or put into practice successfully.

Antonyms

• Nonviable: Not viable.
• Impracticable: Not able to be carried out or done; impossible in practice.
• Unfeasible: Not feasible; impractical.

Related Phrases

• "A viable candidate": A person who has a realistic chance of being chosen or elected.
  • She is considered a viable candidate for the leadership position. (She is considered to have a realistic chance of being chosen for the leadership position.)
• "Viable path forward": A realistic and achievable course of action for future progress.
  • The negotiations aim to find a viable path forward for both companies. (The negotiations aim to find a realistic course of action for both companies' future progress.)

Adjective

1. capable of life or normal growth and development
   • viable seeds
   • a viable fetus
2. capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are