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; cf. tangent ( def. )

Explanation

When you can touch something, it's tangible: "I need tangible proof that aliens exist — I want to shake their little green hands!" Tangible is from Latin tangere, "to touch," and it simply means something that can be touched or felt, though it can be used in metaphorical senses: tangible assets have a value that can be precisely measured, and tangible grief can be clearly sensed by an onlooker. So you might not need to physically touch something for it to be tangible, but it has to be grounded in the real world of facts.

Example Sentences

The bank is aiming for a more than 15% return on tangible equity in 2028, building up to about 18% in 2030.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Utility affordability has become such a concern that state regulators primarily will want to see tangible customer savings, said Paul Patterson, an analyst with Glenrock Associates.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

"FY2025 marked a year of steady execution under Re:Nissan, where we strengthened our foundation and began to see tangible progress in our financial performance," CEO Ivan Espinosa said, referring to its restructuring programme.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

One of the most tangible ways shoppers can save money using loyalty schemes is when two different prices are advertised - one for all customers, and a cheaper one for loyalty scheme members.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

Roots were in ownership of land, in tangible and immovable possessions.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck