tangible

[tan-juh-buhl]

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.

noun

1. something tangible, especially a tangible asset.

tangible

/ 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

noun

1. (often plural) a tangible thing or asset

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tangible¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tangible¹

C16: from Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere to touch

Example Sentences

Then there are the less tangible benefits of having global reach.

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His younger sister, Stella Morrow, 13, still feels awkward about grieving what is still tangible but out of reach.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ellie did not get any scan pictures, so said she has no tangible record of her miscarriages.

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And that’s assuming that the hereafter is any kind of tangible location at all.

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Hayden Hashimoto, an attorney at Clean Air Task Force, meanwhile said "the public health and economic benefits of the current standard are tangible."

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