NEWS Health News Word of the Week: Viable By Team Verywell Health Published on December 08, 2021 Share Tweet Email Print Alex Dos Diaz / Verywell Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology. Word of the Week: Viable How to say it: Viable (vye-ah-bull) What it means: Capable of growing and developing, and living after birth. Where it comes from: Latin vita meaning "life." Mart Production/Pexels Where you might see or hear it: The term "viable" is usually used in medicine to refer to whether a pregnancy will be able to carry through to the birth of a baby that will survive. The topic of fetal viability comes up a lot in conversations about abortion. The laws on abortion take the ability of a developing fetus to survive outside the womb—including with help from incubators and breathing machines, if necessary—into account. In America, states have different "gestational limits" for when abortions can be legally performed. When you might want to use it: If you are pregnant and are at risk for going into labor early, you may want to ask your doctor about fetal viability. Your doctor can explain the different factors that determine whether a fetus can survive if they are born prematurely. Self-Managed Abortions Rise Alongside Abortion Restrictions Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Merriam-Webster. Definition of viable. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit