intangible

[ in-tan-juh-buhl ]

adjective

1. not tangible; incapable of being perceived by the sense of touch, as incorporeal or immaterial things; impalpable.
2. not definite or clear to the mind:

   intangible arguments.

   Synonyms: fleeting, elusive, vague

3. (of an asset, such as reputation or a patent) not physical or financial, and often not measurable or transferable, but contributing to the value of a business.

noun

1. something intangible, especially an intangible asset:

   Intangibles are hard to value.

intangible

/ ɪnˈtændʒɪbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being perceived by touch; impalpable
2. imprecise or unclear to the mind

   intangible ideas

3. (of property or a business asset) saleable though not possessing intrinsic productive value

noun

1. something that is intangible

Derived Forms

• inˈtangibly, adverb
• inˌtangiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• in·tan·gi·bil·i·ty [in-tan-j, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], in·tan·gi·ble·ness noun
• in·tan·gi·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of intangible¹

First recorded in 1630–40; from Medieval Latin intangibilis; in- ³( def ), tangible ( def )

Example Sentences

As it moved through TikTok and Instagram, the term focused solely on the plural possessive, as people jokingly addressed their intangible audiences.

From Slate

Some say that, in taking the material, the French looted something intangible: the Beninese people’s chance at seeing themselves in a larger historical context and not just through the gaze of white victimizers.

From Los Angeles Times

Looking for value beyond the bottom line, they also collected studies that attempted to measure intangible social benefits from living in a city with a pro team.

From Los Angeles Times

Finding those intangible advantages; an unlikely but successful partnership, cajoling an out-of-form player into an unerring demon, identifying your team’s strengths and exposing an opponent’s weakness.

From BBC

We’d rather turn something intangible like the stars, and all the mythology we’ve assigned to them since the literal beginning of time, into something so tangible that we can literally hold it in our hands.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ethereal
• unreal