First Known Use: circa 1832
Dictionary
viable
adjective vi·a·ble \ˈvī-ə-bəl\
: capable of being done or used
: capable of succeeding
: capable of living or of developing into a living thing
Full Definition of VIABLE
1
: capable of living; especially : having attained such form and development as to be normally capable of surviving outside the mother's womb <a viable fetus>
2
: capable of growing or developing <viable seeds> <viable eggs>
3
a : capable of working, functioning, or developing adequately <viable alternatives> b : capable of existence and development as an independent unit <the colony is now a viable state> c (1) : having a reasonable chance of succeeding <a viable candidate> (2) : financially sustainable <a viable enterprise>
— vi·a·bil·i·ty \ˌvī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— vi·a·bly \ˈvī-ə-blē\ adverb
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Examples of VIABLE
- The departure point for a viable peace deal—either with Syria or the Palestinians—must not be based purely on what the political traffic in Israel will bear, but on the requirements of all sides. —Aaron David Miller, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2009
- As gene therapy begins to enjoy some preliminary successes, scientists at the World Anti-Doping Agency, which oversees drug testing for the Olympics, have started to worry that dopers might now see abuse of gene therapy in sport as a viable option, though the practice was banned by WADA in 2003. —Patrick Barry, Science News, 2 Aug. 2008
- Under today's forest management practices, few trees die natural deaths and fewer still attain the girth of the old-growth trees that supported the ivory-bill. The sad fact is that there is really no place in the United States today where a viable population of ivory-bills could persist even if captive reared birds were on hand to stock a release program. —John Terborgh, New York Review of Books, 26 Apr. 2007
- To ponder [John] Updike's work in now old-fashioned sociopolitical terms, it might be said that he examines our struggle to maintain a viable center for our inner life while enduring the most revolutionary force in history—American capitalism. —Robert Stone, New York Times Book Review, 18 June 2006
- At stake is the survival of our civilization and the habitability of the Earth. Or, as one eminent scientist put it, the pending question is whether the combination of an opposable thumb and a neocortex is a viable combination on this planet. —Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
- When a patient agrees to forego a bed at the Portland VA—so far 75% of viable candidates have agreed to do so—a small “strike force” swings into action. The patient is sent home, typically with various medicines, oxygen tanks, and sometimes, a mobile X-ray machine. A nurse visits every day to perform tests, provide IV infusions and monitor medications. As a backup, a physician is on 24-hour standby for emergencies. —Gautam Naik, Wall Street Journal, 19 Apr. 2006
- Another truth is that corks expire with age. A few wineries recognize that fact and recork their library wines every 25 years or so, but that's not a viable process for most collectors. —James Laube, Wine Spectator, 31 Mar. 2005
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Origin of VIABLE
French, from Middle French, from vie life, from Latin vita — more at vital
Related to VIABLE
- Synonyms
- achievable, attainable, doable, feasible, practicable, realizable, possible, workable
- Antonyms
- hopeless, impossible, impracticable, infeasible, nonviable, unattainable, undoable, unfeasible, unrealizable, unviable, unworkable
VIABLE Defined for Kids
viable
adjective vi·a·ble \ˈvī-ə-bəl\
Definition of VIABLE for Kids
1
: capable of living or growing <viable seeds>
2
: possible to use or apply <a viable plan>
Medical Dictionary
viable
adjective vi·a·ble \ˈvī-ə-bəl\
Medical Definition of VIABLE
1
: capable of living <the skin graft was viable> <viable cancer cells>; especially : having attained such form and development as to be normally capable of living outside the uterus—often used of a human fetus at seven months but may be interpreted according to the state of the art of medicine <a viable fetus is one sufficiently developed for extrauterine survival—Words & Phrases> <the fetus is considered viable when it weighs 500 grams or more and the pregnancy is over 20 weeks in duration—S. W. Jacob & C. A. Francone>
2
: capable of growing or developing <viable eggs>
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