Agency Dictionary
Tangible
adjective
In Portuguese: Tangível
Philosophy & EthicsWhat does “Tangible” mean?
Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
Etymology
From Middle French tangible, from Late Latin tangibilis, "that may be touched", from Latin tangere, "to touch". The same verb gives English tangent, contact and contagion. The adjective names what can be perceived by touch and, by extension, what is concrete and real rather than abstract.
Synonyms
- concrete
- palpable
- perceptible
- material
Often confused with
- intangible
- Tangible is what can be touched or measured concretely; intangible is what exists without physical form, like a brand's reputation.
Word family
- tangibility
- tangibly
- intangible
Usage examples
A product is a tangible or intangible item that is created, manufactured, or developed to be offered to customers for purchase or use.
Design.2 - Demystifying UX/UI Design Pt.1 If a product is tangible, has packaging, and can be bought in a supermarket, like a can of Coke, then it is made for a consumer.
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
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- Treatisenoun
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- rhetoricnoun
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- Holisticadjective
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- Abyssnoun
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Also from these editions: terms
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- intangibleadjective
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- Prototypenoun
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- The complete set of instructions, programs, algorithms, and data that direct a computer hardware system to perform specific tasks. It is intangible, adaptable, and easily updated across network connections.
- Layoutnoun
- The spatial arrangement and structural distribution of text, images, and visual elements on a printed page or digital screen. It establishes visual order, reading flow, and aesthetic harmony within a composition.
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