tangible

[ tan-juh-buhl ]
/ ˈtæn dʒə bəl /

adjective

capable of being touched; discernible by the touch; material or substantial.
real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary: the tangible benefits of sunshine.
definite; not vague or elusive: no tangible grounds for suspicion.
(of an asset) having actual physical existence, as real estate or chattels, and therefore capable of being assigned a value in monetary terms.

noun

something tangible, especially a tangible asset.

QUIZZES

FOR POSTERITY’S SAKE, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Are words your bailiwick? Take the latest quiz on the words from July 6 to July 12 to find out.
Question 1 of 7
bailiwick
a creature, variously described as a serpent, lizard, or dragon, said to kill by its breath or look.
place or source of origin.
a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of tangible

1580–90; < Late Latin tangibilis, equivalent to Latin tang(ere) to touch + -ibilis -ible

SYNONYMS FOR tangible

1 palpable, corporeal.
2 certain, genuine, perceptible.
3 specific.

OTHER WORDS FROM tangible

Words nearby tangible

tangential, tangential motion, tangentiality, tangerine, tangi, tangible, tangier, tangier disease, tangier zone, tangka, tangle
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for non-tangible

tangible
/ (ˈtændʒəbəl) /

adjective

capable of being touched or felt; having real substancea tangible object
capable of being clearly grasped by the mind; substantial rather than imaginarytangible evidence
having a physical existence; corporealtangible assets

noun

(often plural) a tangible thing or asset

Derived forms of tangible

tangibility or tangibleness, nountangibly, adverb

Word Origin for tangible

C16: from Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere to touch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012