Definitions and Examples of physical, material, tangible
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
Relating to the body or material things; having substance or form.
Example
The athlete's physical strength and endurance helped him win the race.
Relating to matter or physical objects; having substance or form.
Example
The artist used material such as paint, canvas, and brushes to create his masterpiece.
Capable of being touched or felt; having a physical presence.
Example
The company's profits were not just a number on paper, but a tangible result of their hard work.
Key Differences: physical vs material vs tangible
- 1Physical refers to anything that has substance or form, whether it is living or non-living.
- 2Material refers to physical objects or matter that can be used or manipulated in some way.
- 3Tangible refers to something that can be touched or felt, and has a physical presence.
Effective Usage of physical, material, tangible
- 1Science: Use physical to describe properties of matter, energy, and forces.
- 2Art: Use material to describe the tools and substances used to create art.
- 3Business: Use tangible to describe assets or results that can be measured or seen.
Remember this!
The antonyms have distinct nuances: Physical refers to anything with substance or form, material refers to physical objects or matter, and tangible refers to something that can be touched or felt. Use these words in science, art, business, and other contexts to describe properties, tools, assets, and results.