Showing results for "tactics"

• plural of tactic.

tactics

American  

[tak-tiks] / ˈtæk tɪks /

noun

1. 

   (usually used with a singular verb) the art or science of disposing military or naval forces for battle and maneuvering them in battle.

2. (used with a plural verb) the maneuvers themselves.

3. (used with a singular verb) any mode of procedure for gaining advantage or success.

4. (usually used with a singular verb)

   1. the patterns in which the elements of a given level or stratum in a language may combine to form larger constructions.

   2. the study and description of such patterns.

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tactics British  

/ ˈtæktɪks /

plural noun

1. (functioning as singular) military the art and science of the detailed direction and control of movement or manoeuvre of forces in battle to achieve an aim or task

2. the manoeuvres used or plans followed to achieve a particular short-term aim

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Synonym Usage

See strategy.

Other Word Forms

• countertactics
  noun
• tactician
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of tactics

First recorded in 1620–30; see origin at tactic, -ics

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Explanation

Tactics are your carefully planned actions for attaining a certain goal. You'll have to come up with some clever tactics if you're going to figure out how to build the fastest race car and win the Girl Scout troop competition. Tactics also refers to a branch of military science that deals with planning maneuvers. Military tactics involve organizing troops in certain ways, in various locations, and deploying them according to plan. Your military strategy is your plan of action to achieve your overall goal — sinking the Spanish armada, for instance — while your tactics are the nuts and bolts of how you achieve it — deploying small, agile gunboats. Tactics comes from the Greek root taktos, meaning "ordered, arranged."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tactics

Palestine Action describes itself as a "direct action movement" that uses "disruptive tactics".

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

The Sheriff’s Department has said that it cited Barraza for failing to deploy de-escalation tactics before using force and that it disciplined a sergeant for failures during the assessment after the incident.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

They should train on the most up-to-date tactics from the modern battlefield and must understand both the potential and limitations of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

Rather than actively chasing prey, the snake may have relied on ambush tactics, remaining concealed until another animal came within striking distance.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026

Aside from these brutal tactics, the steel companies also used another strikebreaking strategy.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler

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