tactical
Americanadjective
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of or relating to tactics, especially the placement of military or naval forces in battle or at the front line of a battle.
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characterized by skillful tactics or adroit maneuvering or procedure, especially of military or naval forces.
tactical movements.
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(of a weapon) short range, as battlefield missiles.
A tactical nuclear weapon would still present significant risks to battlefield troops on both sides of the conflict.
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of or relating to a maneuver or plan of action designed as an expedient toward gaining a desired end or temporary advantage.
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expedient; calculated.
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prudent; politic.
adjective
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of, relating to, or employing tactics
a tactical error
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(of weapons, attacks, etc) used in or supporting limited military operations
a tactical missile
tactical bombing
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skilful or diplomatic
a tactical manoeuvre
Other Word Forms
- nontactical adjective
- nontactically adverb
- tactically adverb
- untactical adjective
- untactically adverb
Etymology
Origin of tactical
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.
“Problems will arise in coordinating work between groups, coordinating operations at the lowest tactical levels—platoon, company, battalion.”
“A very simple rule of thumb for tactical liquidation is when gold and equities crash together, which usually signals margin call / liquidation-esque behavior,” they say.
From MarketWatch
He became a fixture on television news, wearing either military style tactical gear or a long, double-breasted green overcoat with wide lapels that critics said was meant to echo Nazi German military garb.
From Barron's
But there are risks to staying on a constant war footing, like failing to turn its tactical gains into a strategic change in Israel’s position.
“Here, you will take control not of logistical lines but of actual tactical support.”
From Literature
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.
