English Reference
adjective · noun

tangible

adj. · n.
US /ˈtændʒəbəɫ/ UK /tˈændʒəbəl/ tan·gi·ble UK spelling tangibles

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.real and clear to see, rather than just an idea or a feeling.

    adj.capable of being treated as fact; substantial rather than imaginary or speculative.

    Simple

    The company has seen tangible benefits from the new training program, like fewer mistakes.

    In context

    The peace talks have yet to produce any tangible results, leaving the international community skeptical about the possibility of a lasting ceasefire.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    adj.able to be touched or felt physically.

    adj.perceptible by the sense of touch; having physical substance.

    Simple

    The museum allows children to handle tangible objects from the past.

    In context

    The tension in the courtroom was almost tangible, as if the silence itself had a physical weight that pressed down on the spectators.

    incorporealethereal
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency TechnicalFormal Law

    n.things that a person or company owns that you can physically touch, like buildings or equipment.

    n.physical assets or property that possess a material form, often used in accounting or legal contexts.

    Simple

    The firm's tangibles, including its machinery and vehicles, were sold to pay off debts.

    In context

    In the valuation of the corporation, the auditors focused on tangibles such as real estate and inventory while discounting the brand's intellectual property.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural form 'tangibles'.

As Vaca Jones put it: “Air is not a tangible public good that people can feel and see.

The Guardian· 23 Aug 2026

S ound is a tangible way of connecting to aspects of nature that are hidden from humans.

Aeon· 17 Aug 2026

Borrowed from Middle French tangible, from Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere (“to touch”)

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin tangere
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated