Real vs. Tangible — What's the Difference?

The term "real" encompasses the concept of authenticity and existence, implying that something is not fake, imagined, or theoretical. It can apply to objects, feelings, and abstract concepts, confirming their authenticity or factual nature. In contrast, "tangible" focuses strictly on the physical or material aspects of objects, stressing that something is perceptible by touch and therefore concrete in the physical world.

Real can describe experiences, emotions, or situations as being genuine or true. For example, real pain, real happiness, or real danger are subjective but acknowledge the authenticity of these experiences. Conversely, tangible is used to describe physical objects or results, like tangible assets in business (equipment, buildings) or tangible evidence in a legal context, which are physically present and measurable.

In the realm of law and economics, "real" is used in terms like real property (land and buildings) or real rates (inflation-adjusted rates), indicating a broader scope that includes both tangible and intangible aspects under its definition. Tangible, however, is often paired with physical assets or impacts in business and legal documentation, such as tangible personal property or tangible benefits, highlighting their measurable and concrete nature.

Discussions about reality often delve into what constitutes the 'real' world versus perceptions or illusions. This abstract use of "real" is far from the practical implications of "tangible," which would never concern itself with philosophical abstractions but rather with the concrete and measurable.

While "real" has a broader application, affecting both abstract concepts and physical entities, "tangible" is more narrowly defined and always relates to the physical and measurable aspects of reality. This distinction is crucial in contexts where the physical presence or absence of an object changes the nature of the discussion, such as in science, law, or business.