1. botany the capacity of a seed, spore, or pollen grain to germinate and develop under given conditions —note potential viability is commonly estimated by germination tests or by cutting, X-raying, or soaking in chemicals that color seed components; actual viability is determined by measuring germinative capacity —see dormancy, germination, germinative energy 2. wildlife the ability of a wildlife or plant population to maintain sufficient size to persist over time in spite of normal fluctuations in numbers —note viability is usually expressed as the probability of maintaining a specific population for a specified periodThis definition last updated 08/17/2008