tactical

[ tak-ti-kuhl ]

/ ˈtæk tɪ kəl /

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adjective

of or relating to tactics, especially military or naval tactics.

characterized by skillful tactics or adroit maneuvering or procedure: tactical movements.

of or relating to a maneuver or plan of action designed as an expedient toward gaining a desired end or temporary advantage.

expedient; calculated.

prudent; politic.

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Origin of tactical

First recorded in 1560–70; tactic + -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM tactical

tac·ti·cal·ly, adverbnon·tac·ti·cal, adjectivenon·tac·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·tac·ti·cal, adjective

un·tac·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby tactical

taconite, tact, tactful, tactfulness, tactic, tactical, Tactical Air Command, tactical unit, tactical voting, tactical wire, tactician

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tactical in a sentence

Because of those tactical advantages, we might expect the Chiefs to be clear favorites over the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Our Guide To Super Bowl LV|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|February 3, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Here, in part two, we speak a bit more tactical, about how content and search.
Video: Phillip Thune on finding good writers and writing good content|Barry Schwartz|January 19, 2021|Search Engine Land
From there we move on to explore reporting problems marketers may find within their data and then progress into a deeper tactical analysis of those issues across a host of platforms.
Why we’re creating a new content experience for SMX|Henry Powderly|January 13, 2021|Search Engine Land
A single tactical error can cost precious seconds or minutes that are hard to claw back.
Jessie Diggins Wins the Tour de France of Skiing|Ariella Gintzler|January 13, 2021|Outside Online

The comparison with Go illustrates how these two studies elevate evolution from a largely tactical process to one that is rich in strategic possibility.
Playing Go with Darwin - Issue 94: Evolving|David Krakauer|December 16, 2020|Nautilus
“So, about good for one tactical burst,” the first Air Force official said.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The “tactical” side of artillery—its use on a battlefield—was something Jackson was not called upon to explain.
Stonewall Jackson, VMI’s Most Embattled Professor|S. C. Gwynne|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They thought in their minds the drones had a tactical advantage, so they allowed them to continue for quite some time.
Obama’s Deadly Informants: The Drone Spotters of Pakistan|Umar Farooq, Syed Fakhar Kakakhel|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Russian Air Force also flew additional sorties over the Baltic Sea with tactical strike fighters on Oct. 29.
Are Russian Bombers Flying Nuclear Drills Near Europe—Or Just Testing NATO’s Defenses?|Dave Majumdar|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nobody really has the control in the tactical environment.
Air Force Pilots Say They're Flying Blind Against ISIS|Dave Majumdar|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When, however, the retreat was at last ordered, Ney showed to the full his immense tactical ability.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
King Robert's military renown does not need the false attribution of tactical discoveries that he certainly did not make.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
Tactical use, by the enemy, of the more resilient units of the Landsturm for negotiating Belgian dykes.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, November 4, 1914|Various
The art of leadership consists of applying sound tactical principles to concrete cases on the battlefield.
Manual of Military Training|James A. Moss
What fire superiority accomplishes; psychological moment for charge determined by tactical instinct.
Manual of Military Training|James A. Moss

British Dictionary definitions for tactical

tactical

/ (ˈtæktɪkəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, or employing tacticsa tactical error

(of weapons, attacks, etc) used in or supporting limited military operationsa tactical missile; tactical bombing

skilful or diplomatica tactical manoeuvre

Derived forms of tactical

tactically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tactical

Origin of tactical

OTHER WORDS FROM tactical

Words nearby tactical

Words related to tactical

How to use tactical in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tactical

Derived forms of tactical