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

Derived Forms

• ˌtangiˈbility, noun
• ˈtangibly, adverb

Other Words From

• tangi·bili·ty tangi·ble·ness noun
• tangi·bly adverb
• non·tangi·ble adjective
• non·tangi·ble·ness noun
• non·tangi·bly adverb
• pre·tangi·ble adjective
• pre·tangi·bly adverb
• quasi-tangi·ble adjective
• quasi-tangi·bly adverb
• un·tangi·ble 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

Betty represents tangible reality while Norma embodies seductive illusion in a musical that dramatizes the unfair fight between them for Joe’s jaded soul.

From Los Angeles Times

Acquiring tangible proof of wrongdoing would also be much harder to come by under an at-fault divorce, a dynamic made worse when a woman is seeking a divorce to escape abuse, Zug said.

From Salon

The emphasis of the awards is on tangible results, scaling up good ideas to make a bigger impact.

From BBC

“What they have taken from me, apart from the tangible things, is my sense of security,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Could any of these posts - misleading or not - have a tangible impact this election?

From BBC