workable

Workable is an adjective that denotes something that can be worked, operated, or implemented successfully within available resources and constraints. It signals feasibility, viability, and practicality in a given context.

Etymology: The word is formed from the noun work and the suffix -able, indicating the capacity to be worked or put into effect. It has a long-standing place in English and is commonly used in technical and everyday language.

Usage: The term appears in engineering, project planning, management, and policy design to describe solutions, schedules, or designs that can realistically be brought to fruition. A workable plan accounts for time, cost, and risks; a workable design can be manufactured with current technology.

Examples: A workable timetable is one that can be met without overloading resources. A design may be deemed workable if it functions under real-world conditions and within budgetary limits.

Synonyms and antonyms: Synonyms include feasible, practicable, doable, and viable; antonyms include unworkable and infeasible. The phrase workable is often followed by nouns such as solution, approach, timetable, or method.

Related terms: Workability, feasibility, and practicability are closely related concepts used to discuss whether a proposed course of action can be effectively implemented.