adjective

viable

/ˈvaɪəbəl/ · say it: VY·uh·bul

capable of working successfully; feasible

In Sophisticated Everyday

capable of working successfully

In Formal & Academic

In more detail

1. (adjective) able to work successfully or be done; capable of being achieved

2. (adjective) able to stay alive and develop (used of a living thing or organism)

Examples

1. The new business plan seems viable and should make a profit.
2. The baby was born prematurely but is now viable and healthy.

How to use viable

Viable is used when something is possible and can realistically succeed or function, often with emphasis on practical or economic considerations. In biology, it describes organisms capable of surviving and developing independently. The term is more formal than 'workable' and suggests a plan or organism has genuine potential, not just theoretical possibility.

Common phrases

viable option
viable alternative
viable solution
commercially viable
economically viable
viable business

Synonyms

feasible · practicable · workable · achievable · sustainable

Opposites

impractical · unfeasible · unworkable

Word family

viability · viably

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use viable interchangeably with 'possible' or 'valid,' but viable specifically implies practical feasibility or the ability to survive and thrive, not merely the existence of a logical option.

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