adjective

1. able to live; specif.,
   1. having developed sufficiently within the uterus to be able to live and continue normal development outside the uterus a premature but viable infant
   2. able to take root and grow viable seeds
2. workable and likely to survive or to have real meaning, pertinence, etc. a viable economy, viable ideas

Etymology: Fr, likely to live < vie, life < L vita: see vital