Biology dictionary

Definition

adjective

(1) Alive; capable of living, developing, or reproducing, as in a viable cell.

(2) Able to live on its own or outside the uterus, used of an embryo, fetus or newborn.

(3) Possible; practicable; capable of being done.

Supplement

Word origin: French » Mediaeval Latin *vitabilis (“‘capable of life’”) » Latin vita (“‘life’”).
Related forms: viability.

Antonyms:

• inviable
• nonviable

Related terms:

• viable cell count