adj.
Pronunciation: ' v ī - ə -b ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from vie life, from Latin vita ― more at VITAL
Date: circa 1832
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 \ ˌ v ī - ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– vi · a · bly \ ' v ī - ə -bl ē \ adverb