strategic

American  

[struh-tee-jik] / strəˈti dʒɪk /

Sometimes strategical

adjective

1. pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of strategy.

   strategic movements.

2. important in or essential to strategy.

   Synonyms:

   principal, key, crucial, critical, opportune

3. (of an action, as a military operation or a move in a game) forming an integral part of a stratagem.

   a strategic move in a game of chess.

4. Military.

   1. intended to render the enemy incapable of making war, as by the destruction of materials, factories, etc..

      a strategic bombing mission.

   2. (of a weapon) long range, as an intercontinental ballistic missile.

      Strategic nuclear weapons were the linchpin of the Mutual Assured Destruction doctrine at the height of the Cold War.

   3. essential to the conduct of a war.

      Copper is a strategic material.

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strategic British  

/ strəˈtiːdʒɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of strategy

2. important to a strategy or to strategy in general

3. (of weapons, attacks, etc) directed against an enemy's homeland rather than used on a battlefield

   a strategic missile

   strategic bombing

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Other Word Forms

• nonstrategic adjective
• nonstrategical adjective
• strategically adverb
• unstrategic adjective
• unstrategical adjective

Etymology

Origin of strategic

First recorded in 1815–25; from Greek stratēgikós, equivalent to stratēg(ós) “general” ( strategy ) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

A strategic priority of the IRS next fiscal year is data-driven enforcement, according to the Congressional Budget Justification report.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

“The slate proposed by the outgoing board appears better positioned to provide a balanced and stable governance framework during a period of strategic transition,” Glass Lewis says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Citi analyst Tyler Radke likewise described the move as “a CFO announcement built for capex,” in a note, adding that Schneider Electric also underwent a strategic transition under Maxson’s leadership.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

That is why, for Chinese officials, promoting OpenClaw is a strategic move, according to Jenny Xiao.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Determined to discourage uninvited rodents, Curly carefully baited the rattraps with peanut butter and placed them at strategic locations along the outside walls of the trailer.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Related Words

• critical
• important
• key
• vital