The basic tangible meaning is able to be touched: a tangible object is physical, like a chair, a coin or a printed ticket. Over time it widened to mean clear, definite and real, so a tangible result is one you can actually see, count or point to.
So what does tangible mean in a meeting or a news report? Usually the second sense. A manager who wants tangible progress wants proof, not promises. Below you will find a simple tangible definition for each sense, its opposite intangible, the business term tangible assets, and a set of everyday sentences.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
1. Able to be touched; physical. 2. Clear, definite and real.Part of speech
Adjective; also a noun, usually plural (tangibles)Pronunciation
TAN-juh-buhlWord forms
tangibly (adverb), tangibility (noun)Origin
Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere, to touch; in English since the 1580sOpposite
intangible, abstract, vagueRegister
Neutral to formal; common in business and news
Define tangible: the two senses
- Physical. Something with a body that you could touch: tangible goods, a tangible gift, tangible evidence such as fingerprints.
- Clear and real. Something not physical but still obvious, definite or measurable: a tangible improvement in sales, a tangible sense of relief in the room, tangible benefits.
Most modern writing uses sense two. When a feeling is described as tangible, as in the tension was tangible, the speaker means it was so strong it almost felt physical, like something in the air you could reach out and grab.
Tangible meaning in example sentences
- After months of planning, the new bus route brought tangible changes to how people got to work.
- Investors want tangible results before they put in more money.
- The excitement in the stadium was almost tangible before kickoff.
- A handwritten thank you card feels more tangible than an email.
- Police found no tangible evidence linking him to the break in.
- Her coaching improved my confidence tangibly within a few weeks.
Tangible vs intangible
| Tangible | Intangible | |
|---|---|---|
| Core idea | Physical, or clearly real | Not physical, or hard to pin down |
| Things | buildings, cash, machines, stock in a shop | reputation, skills, goodwill, brand loyalty |
| Results | more sales, fewer errors, a finished bridge | better morale, a sense of trust |
Intangible does not mean unimportant. Teamwork and a good name are intangible but can be extremely valuable. The difference is only whether you can touch or easily measure them. Related ideas include abstract, which describes ideas without a physical form.
Tangible assets in business and accounting
In accounting, a tangible asset is property with a physical form that a company owns: land, buildings, vehicles, equipment, furniture and inventory. Intangible assets are valuable but have no physical form, such as patents, copyrights, trademarks and software. As a definition of tangible worth, a related figure, tangible net worth or tangible book value, leaves out intangible assets to show what the physical and financial assets alone are worth.
Lenders sometimes prefer tangible assets as collateral because they can be sold if a loan is not repaid. You will see these terms in company reports, loan papers and the business and money pages of this site.
A short word history
Tangible came into English in the 1580s, from French tangible and Late Latin tangibilis, built on Latin tangere, to touch. That verb also sits behind tangent (a line that just touches a curve), contact and intact (literally untouched). The sense of something real that one can possess followed by the 1610s, while the meaning of something definite enough to deal with appears in the 1700s.
Using tangible well
Tangible works best before nouns like results, benefits, evidence, proof, progress, impact, difference and reward. It also sits after linking verbs: the change felt tangible.
Be careful not to overuse it in reports. If every outcome is called tangible, the word loses force. A number often says more: rather than tangible savings, you can write savings of eight percent. And keep it apart from tactile, which is about the sense of touch itself, as in a tactile fabric or a tactile learner. Tangible sits beside many sturdy, useful entries in the everyday vocabulary section, a handy place to grow your own word bank.
Frequently asked questions
What does tangible mean, put plainly?
It means real and touchable, or clear enough to see and measure. A tangible gift is a physical object. A tangible result is one you can point to as proof.
What is the opposite of tangible?
The direct opposite is intangible, meaning not physical or hard to measure. Other opposites, depending on the sense, are abstract, vague or theoretical.
Can a feeling be tangible?
Yes, in a figurative way. Saying the fear in a room was tangible means it was so strong and obvious that it seemed almost physical. Writers reach for this figurative use often.
What are tangible assets?
They are things a business owns that have a physical form, such as buildings, machines, vehicles and stock. Patents, trademarks and goodwill are intangible assets because they cannot be touched.
How do you pronounce tangible?
Say TAN-juh-buhl, leaning on TAN. The g is soft, like the g in giant.
Is tangible a formal word?
It is neutral to slightly formal. You will hear it in office talk, politics and journalism, but it also fits casual speech, as in a tangible difference after a good night of sleep.