tangible

/ˈtændʒəbəl/
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Describes what can be touched or what is real and definite enough to be clearly recognized, demonstrated, or valued.

Examples

  • Insurance covered the building and other tangible property.
  • The new bus route brought tangible benefits to the neighborhood.
  • The company owns tangible assets such as land and machinery.
  • The lender asked for a list of tangible property.
  • Are patents considered tangible assets in this report?

Similar words

concrete
concrete
definite
corporeal
material
noticeable
concrete
physical
palpable
material

Meanings

Able to be touched

adjective
everyday
neutral
Having physical substance and therefore able to be touched or handled.

Examples

  • The museum lets visitors handle several tangible objects.
  • Digital files are useful, but they are not tangible in the same way as books.
  • She wanted a tangible reminder of her time abroad.
  • Is the sculpture tangible, or is it only a projection?
  • The idea did not become tangible until the first model was built.

Similar words

Real and clearly noticeable

adjective
everyday
neutral
Real, definite, or clear enough to be noticed, shown, measured, or experienced rather than merely imagined or promised.

Examples

  • The new bus route brought tangible benefits to the neighborhood.
  • We found no tangible evidence that the document was forged.
  • Has the training produced any tangible improvement yet?
  • The talks ended without a tangible result.
  • Her relief was almost tangible when the call finally came.

Similar words

Physical asset with value

adjective
finance
technical
Having physical existence and an assessable value, especially when describing property or assets in business, accounting, or law.

Examples

  • The company owns tangible assets such as land and machinery.
  • Goodwill is not recorded as a tangible asset.
  • The lender asked for a list of tangible property.
  • Are patents considered tangible assets in this report?
  • Insurance covered the building and other tangible property.

Similar words

Concrete things or qualities

noun
everyday
formal
A concrete thing, quality, or asset that can be identified, measured, or valued, most often used in the plural tangibles.

Examples

  • The coach praised her speed but asked scouts to assess the other tangibles.
  • Investors moved their money into tangibles such as gold and art.
  • The proposal offers several tangibles, including lower fees.
  • Can we compare the tangibles before discussing reputation?
  • The report separates tangibles from goodwill and brand value.

Similar words

Etymology

Entered English in the late sixteenth century through French and Late Latin tangibilis, meaning able to be touched, from Latin tangere, to touch. The physical idea later widened to things that are clear, real, or measurable.

FAQ

What does tangible mean?

Tangible means able to be touched, or real and definite enough to be clearly noticed or demonstrated.

What is a tangible benefit?

A tangible benefit is a clear, practical gain that can be observed or measured, such as higher pay or less travel time.

What is the opposite of tangible?

The usual opposite is intangible, meaning nonphysical or difficult to define or measure.

How is tangible pronounced?

In General American English, tangible is pronounced /ˈtændʒəbəl/.

Where does tangible come from?

Tangible ultimately comes from Latin tangere, meaning to touch.

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