tactic
noun
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tactic
American
[tak-tik]
/ ˈtæk tɪk /
noun
-
a system or a detail of tactics.
-
a plan, procedure, or expedient for promoting a desired end or result.
adjective
-tactic
1
British
combining form
tactic
2
British
/ ˈtæktɪk /
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tactic
First recorded in 1560–70; New Latin tacticus, from Greek taktikós “fit for arranging or ordering,” from tak-, base of tássein ( Attic táttein ) “to arrange, put in order” + -tikos -tic
Explanation
Tactic is another word for a maneuver or method. If begging doesn't convince your parents to raise your allowance, you might want to try a different tactic—like doing all your chores without being asked. English-speakers have been talking about tactics since at least 1640, when this word was first recorded. A tactic is just a way to do something, a plan, or an approach. Generals have to have a good grasp on military tactics to win a battle; football teams have to use strong defensive tactics to keep the other guys from scoring. One time-tested tactic for winning over a teacher? Always turn your homework in on time!
Vocabulary lists containing tactic
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 9
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Word Generation Social Studies - Ancient Civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I don’t know if that’s the tactic that the Broadview Six and their lawyers have in mind.
From Slate • May 22, 2026
In recent years there have been two high-profile prosecutions of parents of school shooters, but such accountability remains an under-used tactic by district attorneys.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
Travel agent Katie Lynn Reynolds used this tactic for a client who booked tickets when jet-fuel prices spiked.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
Another tactic, several parents said: Seek out teachers who give their kid extra leeway with test time in class and have them write letters attesting to the student’s anxiety or other reason for special treatment.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
This tactic was commonly used by industrialists to combat strikes and was well-known among laborers.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
