Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

tang

1 American  
[tang] / tæŋ /

noun

  1. a strong taste or flavor.

    Synonyms:
    savor
  2. the distinctive flavor or quality of a thing.

  3. a pungent or distinctive odor.

  4. a touch or suggestion of something; slight trace.

    Synonyms:
    hint, taste
  5. a long and slender projecting strip, tongue, or prong forming part of an object, as a chisel, file, or knife, and serving as a means of attachment for another part, as a handle or stock.

  6. a surgeonfish.


verb (used with object)

  1. to furnish with a tang.

tang 2 American  
[tang] / tæŋ /

noun

  1. a sharp ringing or twanging sound; clang.


verb (used with or without object)

  1. to ring or twang; clang.

T'ang 3 American  
[tahng] / tɑŋ /
Or Tang

noun

  1. a dynasty in China, a.d. 618–907, marked by territorial expansion, the invention of printing, and the high development of poetry.


tang 1 British  
/ tæŋ /

noun

  1. a strong taste or flavour

    the tang of the sea

  2. a pungent or characteristic smell

    the tang of peat fires

  3. a trace, touch, or hint of something

    a tang of cloves in the apple pie

  4. the pointed end of a tool, such as a chisel, file, knife, etc, which is fitted into a handle, shaft, or stock

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Tang 2 British  
/ tæŋ /

noun

  1. the imperial dynasty of China from 618–907 ad

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tang1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English tange “tongue of a snake, projection on a tool,” perhaps from Old Norse tangi “projection, headland, tang of a blade”

Origin of tang2

First recorded in 1660–70; imitative; ting 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Or maybe, an egg that leans more spicy with a hint of tang?

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

The world champion held black belts in karate, taekwondo, tang soo do, Brazilian jiu jitsu, judo and the martial arts discipline he founded himself, chun kuk do.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

He opted for pseudo-macho pastiche, with a distinct Reddit-ish tang: Operation Epic Fury might as well translate to Operation Epic Bacon.

From Slate • Mar. 6, 2026

It's not the kind of kimchi my family would have made, but the process - rubbing paste into each leaf, waiting for the tang to deepen - connects back to kitchens thousands of miles away.

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2025

There was a tang of smoke in the air, rubble on the ground.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler