intangible

/ɪnˈtændʒəbl/

Say it: in-TAN-juh-bull

1. adjective Unable to be touched or perceived by the senses; not having a physical presence.
A company's brand reputation is a valuable but intangible asset.
2. adjective Difficult or impossible to define or grasp precisely; elusive.
She had an intangible quality of confidence that made everyone listen.
3. noun Something that lacks a physical presence, especially a non-physical asset.
On the balance sheet, goodwill and intellectual property are listed as intangibles.

📖 Seen in the wild

The company's greatest assets were its intangible qualities, such as its reputation and brand loyalty.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ intangible in a sentence

The team's success was due to a combination of skill and certain intangible factors like morale and chemistry.
While the salary was good, the job's intangible benefits, like a supportive work environment, were what truly mattered.
There was an intangible feeling of suspense in the air before the winner was announced.
He sought to capture the intangible beauty of the sunset in his painting.
Economists often struggle to measure the intangible value of a clean environment.
Copyright is a form of intangible property that protects original works of authorship.
The new CEO brought an intangible sense of purpose to the struggling company.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

impalpable ethereal abstract incorporeal elusive indefinable immaterial unseen

impalpable · suggests something so subtle or fine it cannot be physically felt, like a mood or a mist.

ethereal · implies a delicate, unearthly, or heavenly quality that seems too perfect for this world.

abstract · refers specifically to ideas or concepts rather than physical objects.

incorporeal · specifically means lacking a physical body or material form, often used for spirits or ghosts.

Opposites: tangible, palpable, concrete, physical, material

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'intangible' comes to us directly from Late Latin 'intangibilis'. It was formed by combining the prefix 'in-', meaning 'not', with the word 'tangibilis', meaning 'touchable'. The root is the Latin verb 'tangere', 'to touch', which is also the source of words like 'tangent' and 'tangible'.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

intangible assetintangible qualityintangible benefitintangible valueintangible property

'Intangible' is most frequently used in business and finance to describe non-physical assets like goodwill, patents, and brand value. When used to describe qualities or feelings, it carries a more analytical tone than synonyms like 'elusive' or 'vague'. A common mistake is to confuse 'intangible' (not touchable) with 'unintelligible' (not understandable).

Word family: intangibility, intangibly

💬 Quick answers

What does intangible mean?

Intangible describes something that cannot be physically touched or is difficult to define or grasp. It often refers to abstract qualities, feelings, or non-physical assets like brand reputation.

What is the difference between intangible and abstract?

'Intangible' means not touchable, focusing on the lack of physical form. 'Abstract' refers to something that exists as an idea or concept rather than a concrete reality. While overlapping, 'intangible' can describe a real but non-physical thing (like a radio wave), whereas 'abstract' is purely conceptual (like justice).

What is an example of an intangible asset?

An intangible asset is a valuable item that is not physical. Common examples include a company's brand recognition, intellectual property like patents and copyrights, and customer goodwill.

Is 'intangible' a formal word?

'Intangible' is a neutral to formal word. It is standard in business, legal, and academic contexts but is also appropriate in everyday conversation for discussing concepts that are hard to pin down.

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