From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishviablevi‧a‧ble /ˈvaɪəbəl/ ●○○ adjective 1 POSSIBLEa viable idea, plan, or method can work successfullyviable alternative/proposition/option etc The committee came forward with one viable solution.economically/commercially/financially viable Will a hotel here be financially viable?► see thesaurus at possible2 technical able to continue to live or to develop into a living thing OPP non-viable viable seeds —viably adverb —viability /ˌvaɪəˈbɪləti/ noun [uncountable] the long-term economic viability of the companyCOLLOCATIONSadverbseconomically/commercially/financially viableNew projects must be economically viable.nounsa viable alternativeWe want to make public transport a viable alternative to using cars.a viable optionMoving the company was not a viable option.a viable proposition (=an idea that will work)Is this kind of tourism a viable proposition?a viable solutionPerhaps the only viable solution is to merge the hospitals.a viable businessHe turned the farm into a viable business.
Examples from the Corpus
viable• They are in favour of the program, but they want strong assurances that it is viable.• These approaches produced successes, and the subfield of expert systems became commercially viable.• Nuclear energy is the only viable alternative to coal or gas.• This leaves criminal prosecution as the only viable option.• These are the kinds of decisions on which viable performance improvement is ultimately based.• Do you think this is a viable proposition?• The only viable route to a future of growth is to allow these basic human activities free rein.• The investment remains beyond reach for many, but the choices today are much broader and more viable than 10 years ago.• Response to radiotherapy was assessed and further laser treatment performed if a viable tumour was identified.economically/commercially/financially viable• Nuclear power has never been economically viable.• Two other developments have helped to make mains signalling commercially viable.• With a minimum wage this nursery would no longer have been financially viable.• They've devised a series of guidelines that will enable the beauty spot to stay both commercially viable and beautiful.• In recent years coal gasification has become increasingly economically viable due to technological developments.• What was once an economically viable privilege becomes an economically unviable entitlement.• The growth of competition put paid to repeated attempts by the railways and the political authorities to establish a financially viable railway.• A number of grants and incentives are available for projects which are socially desirable, but not commercially viable without support.From Longman Business Dictionaryviablevi‧a‧ble /ˈvaɪəbəl/ adjective1a viable plan, system, suggestion etc is realistic and therefore may succeedWe had two months to come up with aviable proposal for saving the factory.If investors find that approach viable, there are no rules to stop them doing that.2FINANCEa viable company or organization is making a profit and can continue to do businessWe had to reduce staff to survive as a viable firm.The auditors will decide whether or not the bank iseconomically viable.Origin viable (1800-1900) French vie “life”, from Latin vita; → VITAL 