Tactile

//ˈtæktaɪl// adj

adj ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Adjective

1
Tangible; perceptible to the sense of touch.
"tactile method of reading"
2
Used for feeling.
3
Of or relating to the sense of touch.
"The delicacy of the tactile sense varies on different parts of the skin; it is greatest on the forehead, temples and back of the forearm."

Adjective

1
producing a sensation of touch wordnet
2
of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch wordnet

Synonyms

handsy haptic haptic palpable tactual tangible

Antonyms

intangible intouchable untouchable

Example

"Mary's boss is a bit too tactile for her liking."

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French tactile, from Latin tactilis (“that may be touched, tangible”), from tangere (“to touch”).

Related phrases

tactile ground surface indicator tactile necrophiliac tactile paving tactile paving slab tactile walking surface indicator

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.