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intangible

C1
UK/ɪnˈtæn(d)ʒəb(ə)l/US/ɪnˈtændʒəb(ə)l/

Formal, academic, business

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Definition

Meaning

Not able to be touched or grasped; lacking physical presence.

Difficult to define, measure, or quantify; often referring to abstract qualities, assets, or feelings.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily used as an adjective, but can be a noun (especially in business/accounting: 'intangibles'). Implies something real and valuable but not material.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Usage is largely identical. 'Intangible assets' is a universal accounting term.

Connotations

Slightly more frequent in UK business English regarding 'heritage' or 'cultural value'.

Frequency

Marginally higher frequency in American financial/business reporting.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
intangible assetintangible valueintangible qualityintangible benefitintangible heritage
medium
intangible conceptintangible fearintangible feelingintangible aspectintangible nature
weak
intangible thingintangible stuffintangible ideaintangible object

Grammar

Valency Patterns

completely/totally intangibleinherently intangibleseemingly intangibleremain intangiblebecome intangible

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

etherealinsubstantial

Neutral

non-physicalincorporealimpalpableabstract

Weak

untouchablevagueindefinable

Vocabulary

Antonyms

tangiblephysicalconcretepalpablematerial

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Refers to non-physical assets like brand value, intellectual property, or goodwill.

Academic

Used in philosophy, economics, and sociology to discuss abstract concepts.

Everyday

Used to describe feelings or atmospheres that are hard to pin down.

Technical

Specific accounting category (IAS 38) for identifiable non-monetary assets without physical substance.

Examples

By Part of Speech

adjective

British English

  • The team's morale is an intangible but crucial factor in their success.
  • The museum's collection includes both tangible artefacts and intangible cultural records.

American English

  • A company's reputation is its most valuable intangible asset.
  • She felt an intangible sense of unease as she entered the old house.

Examples

By CEFR Level

B1
  • Happiness is an intangible feeling.
  • The value of a good brand is intangible.
B2
  • The report highlighted the intangible benefits of flexible working, such as improved well-being.
  • His arguments were based on intangible concepts that were hard to prove.
C1
  • Economists struggle to quantify the intangible contributions of the creative industries to the national economy.
  • The intangible heritage of oral storytelling traditions is vital to the community's identity.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

IN (not) + TANGIBLE (touchable) = NOT TOUCHABLE.

Conceptual Metaphor

VALUE IS SOLID vs. VALUE IS AIR (Intangible value is like air – essential but invisible and hard to contain.)

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not confuse with 'неосязаемый' (correct) and 'нематериальный' (correct for assets). Avoid the false friend 'неприкасаемый' (untouchable, as in social caste).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'intangible' to mean 'unimportant' (it can be very important).
  • Confusing 'intangible' with 'invisible' (something can be visible but intangible, like a hologram).
  • Overusing in informal contexts where 'vague' or 'abstract' would suffice.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
A company's brand loyalty and intellectual property are considered key assets.
Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the BEST example of something intangible?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, especially in business/accounting. E.g., 'The company's balance sheet lists significant intangibles.'

The most direct opposite is 'tangible,' meaning perceptible by touch or clearly defined.

Yes, it is more common in formal, academic, and business contexts. In everyday speech, people might use 'abstract' or 'not physical.'

It is a soft 'g' sound, like the 'j' in 'jam' (/dʒ/).