The Merriam-Webster Word of the Day for September 25, 2026, is tactile. Tactile is an adjective primarily describing things related to the sense of touch. It can also specifically refer to anything that can be perceived through touch. For instance, smartphones with haptic feedback offer a more tactile way to experience calls. Vinyl records are noted for their tactile appeal, contrasting with digital music. The word shares roots with many other English words, all stemming from the Latin verb tangere, meaning "to touch." These relatives include tangible, intact, tact, tangent, contingent, and entire. Tactile entered English around the early 1600s, likely through French, from the Latin word tactilis. Its meanings of being perceptible by touch or relating to the sense of touch are consistent with its etymology. Additionally, tactile is now being used to describe visual elements that evoke a sense of texture.