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>
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from vie life, from Latin vita — more at vital
Date: circa 1832
The longevity, usefulness and desirability of the product. (Blue Book)
“capable of living or growth.” It is taken from the Latin vita which means life. Viability depends, in the main, upon exchange where economics are concerned. A great deal of production can occur, but if it is not exchanged for anything then a group can become non-viable very rapidly. The group does not necessarily live on what it itself produces. A group needs things in addition to those things which it produces thus some of its own production must be exchanged with society for the group to survive. (Admin Dictionary)
VIABLE: businessdictionary.com Practical. For example, a company looking for a viable alternative to a decision might consider alternatives that would provide a similar benefit at a reasonable cost.