tact
Americannoun
-
a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.
- Synonyms:
- poise, diplomacy, sensitivity, perception
-
a keen sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, or aesthetically pleasing; taste; discrimination.
-
touch or the sense of touch.
noun
-
a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others, so as to avoid giving offence or to win good will; discretion
-
skill or judgment in handling difficult or delicate situations; diplomacy
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tact
First recorded in 1150–1200; from Latin tāctus “sense of touch,” equivalent to tag-, variant stem of tangere “to touch” + -tus suffix of verbal action
Explanation
To talk carefully without hurting anyone’s feelings, that’s tact. Politicians have tact, which makes them good at speaking about sensitive matters without making fools of themselves. At least, sometimes they have tact. Around a friend who’s afraid of snakes, you use tact when talking about reptiles because you don’t want to upset them. The Latin root word tangere means “touch,” and a person with tact avoids touching dangerous words like they are an electric fence. When you say something without tact, you “put your foot in your mouth,” as the phrase goes. You don’t literally put your foot in your mouth, although if you did you’d avoid offending people with words.
Vocabulary lists containing tact
Common Senses: Tact, Tang ("Touch")
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"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, Part Nine
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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.
Leo XIV tossed away the diplomatic tact usually required of popes as he began a state visit to Spain on Saturday, revealing that his footballing loyalties lie with Real Madrid.
From Barron's ● Jun. 6, 2026
Ms. Arno treats the affair with tact, showing how persecution and paranoia can become entangled without becoming identical.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
So the challenge for Arbeloa is clear: can he ensure Real's reputation remains in tact, rather than it being stripped away in the first leg of a potentially tenure-shaping tie?
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026
Edwards-Jones’ journalism background shows up — it’s well researched and presented with tact.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 20, 2026
She articulated exactly how long since Maddie had piloted a plane, a known tact.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
