feasible

feasible — adjective

1. describing something that can realistically be completed or put into action, giv

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing something that can realistically be completed or put into action, given the time, money, or tools you have available

Example

Romi checked whether the bridge plans were feasible before ordering steel beams.

predicative use: 'were feasible' with whether-clause

The hospital administrator told Antonia that hiring two extra nurses was not feasible this year.

Common collocations
  • feasible plan
  • feasible solution
  • feasible option
  • financially feasible
  • technically feasible
  • economically feasible
  • politically feasible
  • it is feasible to
  • no longer feasible
  • perfectly feasible
Synonyms
  • possible

    the broadest term; feasible adds the idea of practical achievability given real-world constraints

  • viable

    emphasises economic or biological sustainability; more common in business and science contexts

  • achievable

    focuses on whether personal or team effort can reach a goal, rather than on external resources

  • workable

    informal; often describes a rough solution that functions despite minor imperfections

Antonyms
  • impossible

    cannot be done under any circumstances

  • unfeasible

    direct negative form, identical in meaning but less common

  • impractical

    could theoretically be done but would cost too much or be too difficult to be worth doing

Grammar Patterns

it + be + feasible + to-infinitive

feasible + noun

be + feasible

Usage Note

More formal than 'possible', and adds the idea of practical achievability under real-world limits. Commonly used in planning, business, engineering, and academic contexts.

Common Mistakes

The plan is feasible to be done.
The plan is feasible.
'feasible' already means 'able to be done', so 'to be done' is redundant.
It is feasible to possible.
It is feasible.' or 'It is possible.
'feasible' and 'possible' are similar but not interchangeable; 'feasible' requires practical achievability, not just theoretical possibility.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that can happen or be done, but they emphasise different angles. 'Possible' is the broadest — anything that could happen, even in theory. 'Feasible' narrows this to what is practically doable with the resources at hand. 'Viable' adds the dimension of long-term sustainability, especially in business or science (e.g. a viable business model). 'Achievable' focuses on effort and skill: a goal may be achievable even if resources are tight. 'Workable' is the most informal and suggests a rough solution that functions despite imperfections. For example: building a hospital in a remote village is possible (not impossible), but only feasible if there is a road for supplies. Hiring local staff makes it viable long-term. Training villagers to run it makes it achievable. A portable clinic with solar power might be a workable first step.

possible ↗viable ↗achievableworkable ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • no longer feasible
  • it is feasible to
  • prove feasible
  • seem feasible
  • consider something feasible

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'facere' meaning 'to do' or 'to make', combined with the suffix '-ibilis' meaning 'able to'. It passed through Old French as 'faisible' before entering English in the 15th century with the spelling 'feasible'. The core idea of 'able to be done' has remained stable ever since.