tangible

American  

[tan-juh-buhl] / ˈtæn dʒə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being touched; discernible by the touch; material or substantial.

   Synonyms:

   corporeal, palpable

2. real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary.

   the tangible benefits of sunshine.

   Synonyms:

   perceptible, genuine, certain

3. definite; not vague or elusive.

   no tangible grounds for suspicion.

   Synonyms:

   specific

4. (of an asset) having actual physical existence, as real estate or chattels, and therefore capable of being assigned a value in monetary terms.

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noun

1. something tangible, especially a tangible asset.

tangible British  

/ ˈtændʒəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being touched or felt; having real substance

   a tangible object

2. capable of being clearly grasped by the mind; substantial rather than imaginary

   tangible evidence

3. having a physical existence; corporeal

   tangible assets

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noun

1. (often plural) a tangible thing or asset

Other Word Forms

• nontangible adjective
• nontangibleness noun
• nontangibly adverb
• pretangible adjective
• pretangibly adverb
• quasi-tangible adjective
• quasi-tangibly adverb
• tangibility noun
• tangibleness noun
• tangibly adverb
• untangible adjective

Etymology

Origin of tangible

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tang(ere) “to touch” + -ibilis -ible; tangent ( def. )

Example Sentences

But a fuel surcharge is a different story, she added: “They don’t get anything tangible for it.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

A tangible difference is the addition of Charlisse Leger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

It is very approachable for a CEO and tangible for all of us.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Powys council said it was concerned the new designation "would place additional pressures on our rural communities while offering little in the way of tangible benefit".

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Like my nanni’s voice endowed each of the words with the strength of her belief, like the words were tangible.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed