What does "intangible" mean?
Anything intangible.
Intangible
/ɪnˈtæn.d͡ʒə.bəl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Anything intangible.
- Grammar: intangible is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: nonphysical, abstract, abstract adjective, abstract concept.
- Useful contrasts: corporeal, tactile, clear tangibility.
- Usage evidence: Try and penetrate with our limited means the secrets of nature and you will find that, behind all the discernible concatenations, there remains something subtle, intangible and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond anything that we can comprehend is my religion. To that extent I am, in point of fact, religious.
How to use "intangible"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "intangible" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "intangible" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "intangible" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "intangible" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "intangible" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "nonphysical" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "intangible", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Anything intangible.
"Diaghilev's love for Nijinsky was as deep and as sincere and reliant as a bond could be, it being based on all those intangibles of love that cannot be enumerated."
- 2 assets that are saleable though not material or physical wordnet
- 3 Incorporeal property that is saleable though not material, such as bank deposits, stocks, bonds, and promissory notes.
Adjective
- 1 Incapable of being perceived by the senses; incorporeal.
Adjective
- 1 lacking substance or reality; incapable of being touched or seen wordnet
- 2 hard to pin down or identify wordnet
- 3 incapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch wordnet
- 4 (of especially business assets) not having physical substance or intrinsic productive value wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Try and penetrate with our limited means the secrets of nature and you will find that, behind all the discernible concatenations, there remains something subtle, intangible and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond anything that we can comprehend is my religion. To that extent I am, in point of fact, religious."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "intangible"?
Common synonyms include: nonphysical, abstract, abstract adjective, abstract concept, abstract descriptor, abstract entity.
How do you use "intangible" in a sentence?
Try and penetrate with our limited means the secrets of nature and you will find that, behind all the discernible concatenations, there remains something subtle, intangible and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond anything that we can comprehend is my religion. To that extent I am, in point of fact, religious.
How do you pronounce "intangible"?
Pronounced /ɪnˈtæn.d͡ʒə.bəl/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French intangible, from Medieval Latin intangibilis, from Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tango.