Viable
adjective
Definition
1. (adjective) Capable of working successfully — used for plans, ideas, or businesses that have a realistic chance of succeeding.
2. (adjective) Capable of surviving or living — used in science or medicine for organisms, seeds, or foetuses that can develop and grow.
2. (adjective) Capable of surviving or living — used in science or medicine for organisms, seeds, or foetuses that can develop and grow.
Context Alive
Your friend wants to open a café in a small village with only two hundred residents. You like the idea, but you're not sure it's viable — there just aren't enough people to keep it going. She argues that tourists pass through in summer, but you point out that summer is only three months. She goes quiet for a moment, then says she'll look at the numbers again before making a decision.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 Capable of Working Successfully (Adjective) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about whether something can realistically work, succeed, or be put into practice — not just in theory, but in the real world. Imagine a startup pitching an idea to investors — the investors want to know if the business model is viable, meaning can it actually make money and survive long-term. This is describing something that has a genuine, practical chance of success. You might say "working from home is a viable option for most of our staff" when the setup and technology support it, or someone could ask "is this plan financially viable?" to find out if there's enough money to make it work. Or think about a city considering building a new tram line — before committing millions, they need to check whether it's a viable project given the population and budget. The word suggests realism and practicality — it's not about dreaming, it's about what can actually be done.
✏️ Viable is the go-to word in business and planning when you need to ask: "Can this actually work?" You'll hear it in meetings, reports, and pitches constantly. The noun form is viability — "we need to assess the viability of the project." If something isn't viable, it means it looks good on paper but won't survive in reality.
2 Capable of Surviving or Growing (Adjective) Common ▼
This meaning is about whether a living thing — a seed, an embryo, an organism — is capable of surviving and developing normally. Imagine a scientist examining seeds that have been stored for decades to check whether they can still grow — she's testing if they're still viable. This is describing biological potential — whether something has the ability to live and function. You might read in a medical article that "the foetus was viable at 24 weeks" meaning it could survive outside the womb with medical help, or a farmer could check whether seeds from last year are still viable before planting them. Or think about transplant surgery — doctors need to make sure the donated organ is viable before they can use it. The word suggests the thing has the biological capacity to survive and develop.
✏️ In medicine, viable is a critical term — especially in discussions about pregnancy, where "viable" refers to the point at which a baby could survive outside the womb. In biology, it's used for cells, tissues, seeds, and organisms. This meaning is more technical than meaning 1, but it's the original sense of the word — it comes from the French word vie, meaning "life."
Common Patterns
Plans / Ideas / Business
a viable option / alternative → a choice that could realistically work
Public transport is a viable alternative to driving in the city.
commercially / financially / economically viable → capable of making money or being sustained financially
The project won't go ahead unless it's financially viable.
a viable solution / plan / strategy → a practical approach that has a real chance of succeeding
We need to find a viable solution before the deadline.
Science / Medicine
viable + organism / seed / embryo → capable of surviving and developing normally
Only 60% of the seeds were still viable after five years in storage.
no longer viable → has lost the ability to survive, grow, or succeed
The tissue sample was no longer viable after being left at room temperature.
Collocations
10 collocationsviable option
a realistic choice that could work
viable alternative
a practical substitute that has a real chance of success
viable solution
a fix or approach that can realistically be applied
commercially viable
capable of making a profit in the market
financially viable
sustainable in terms of money and funding
economically viable
making economic sense — worth the investment
viable business
a company or venture that can survive and grow
viable candidate
a person who has a realistic chance of winning or being selected
no longer viable
something that used to work but can't anymore
viable strategy
a plan of action that has a genuine chance of succeeding
Example Sentences
10 examples
1
Electric cars are becoming a more viable option as battery technology improves.
Electric cars are turning into a more realistic choice as batteries get better.
2
The company needs to prove the product is commercially viable before investors will commit.
The company has to show the product can make money before investors will put their money in.
3
Is remote working a viable long-term solution, or just a temporary fix?
Can working from home realistically work forever, or is it only a short-term answer?
4
The seeds were tested and only half of them were still viable after a decade.
After ten years, tests showed that only half the seeds could still grow.
5
Without government funding, the project is simply not financially viable.
The project can't survive financially unless the government provides money.
6
She's the only viable candidate — the others don't have enough experience.
She's the only person with a real chance of being selected — the rest lack the experience.
7
The old factory site could be a viable location for the new school.
The former factory ground could realistically work as a spot for the new school.
8
Solar energy is now a viable alternative to fossil fuels in many countries.
Solar power has become a realistic substitute for fossil fuels in much of the world.
9
The doctor confirmed that the pregnancy was viable and progressing normally.
The doctor said the pregnancy was developing well and the baby could survive.
10
The plan sounded great in theory, but nobody could explain how it was viable in practice.
The plan seemed brilliant as an idea, but no one could show how it would actually work in real life.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsfeasible
very close in meaning — focuses more on whether something is technically possible to do
practical
emphasises real-world usefulness rather than theoretical possibility
workable
informal and straightforward — suggests something can function in practice
Antonymsunviable
the direct opposite — not capable of working or surviving
impractical
too difficult or unrealistic to put into action
unfeasible
not possible to achieve — too many obstacles in the way