intangible

American  

[in-tan-juh-buhl] / ɪnˈtæn dʒə bəl /

adjective

1. not tangible; incapable of being perceived by the sense of touch, as incorporeal or immaterial things; impalpable.

2. not definite or clear to the mind.

   intangible arguments.

   Synonyms:

   fleeting, elusive, vague

3. (of an asset, such as reputation or a patent) not physical or financial, and often not measurable or transferable, but contributing to the value of a business.

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noun

1. something intangible, especially an intangible asset.

   Intangibles are hard to value.

intangible British  

/ ɪnˈtændʒɪbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being perceived by touch; impalpable

2. imprecise or unclear to the mind

   intangible ideas

3. (of property or a business asset) saleable though not possessing intrinsic productive value

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noun

1. something that is intangible

Other Word Forms

• intangibility noun
• intangibleness noun
• intangibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of intangible

First recorded in 1630–40; from Medieval Latin intangibilis; in- ³ ( def. ), tangible ( def. )

Example Sentences

Still, being asset-light means the balance sheets of many tech companies are stocked with intangible assets, including patents and licenses, rather than capital assets, such as factories or specialized equipment.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

"But at the same time, we are stable, we are predictable. We are reliable and we are trusted, and these are intangible assets that others would die to have."

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

The U.S. pioneered a foreign minimum tax by adopting the global intangible low-taxed income regime in its 2017 tax reform.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Internet phone wholesalers often operate across dozens of obscure international markets, and sell an intangible service—minutes of call traffic—that is easy to fudge on invoices and tax documents.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Every system of control depends for its survival on the tangible and intangible benefits that are provided to those who are responsible for the system’s maintenance and administration.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• ethereal
• unreal