adj. 1. Capable of success or continuing effectiveness; practicable: a viable plan; a viable national economy. See Synonyms at possible. 2. a. Capable of living, developing, or germinating under favorable conditions: viable spores. b. Capable of living outside the uterus. Used of a fetus or newborn. [French, from vie, life, from Old French, from Latin vīta; see gwei- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] vi′a·bili·ty n. via·bly adv. |
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