intangible

/ɪnˈtændʒəbəl/

/ɪnˈtændʒɪbəl/

Other forms: intangibles; intangibly

You can't touch this word — it is intangible. You can grasp the meaning of the word in your head, but you can't close your hands around it; you'll just put fingerprints on your monitor.

The Latin verb tangere means "to touch," and the 16th-century English word tangible comes from it. Something intangible can't be touched physically, but most of the time it is understandable or even felt in the heart. Sadness can't be picked up and thrown in the garbage can because it is intangible, but you can throw away the tissues wet with tears. Laughing is intangible too, but you can hold onto movies, pets, and friends that make you laugh.

Definitions of intangible

1. adjective

   incapable of being perceived by the senses, especially the sense of touch
   “"the intangible constituent of energy"- James Jeans”

   synonyms: impalpable

   abstract

   existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment

   antonyms:

   tangible

   perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch

   concrete

   capable of being perceived by the senses; not abstract or imaginary

   tactile, tactual

   producing a sensation of touch
2. adjective

   lacking substance or reality; incapable of being touched or seen
   “that intangible thing--the soul”

   synonyms: nonphysical

   immaterial, nonmaterial

   not consisting of matter
3. adjective

   (of especially business assets) not having physical substance or intrinsic productive value
   “intangible assets such as good will”

   antonyms:

   tangible

   (of especially business assets) having physical substance and intrinsic monetary value

   real

   (of property) fixed or immovable

   realizable

   capable of being realized
4. adjective

   hard to pin down or identify
   “an intangible feeling of impending disaster”

   synonyms:

   unidentifiable

   impossible to identify
5. noun

   assets that are saleable though not material or physical
   synonyms: intangible asset

   types:

   good will, goodwill

   (accounting) an intangible asset valued according to the advantage or reputation a business has acquired (over and above its tangible assets)

   type of:

   assets

   anything of material value or usefulness that is owned by a person or company