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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The Odyssey
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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.
The result is a superb collection of six true stories that are told with tact, care and subtlety.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
“We spoke with him for hours, and he told us everything he saw, obviously with great tact, sharing both the good and the not-so-good,” Roy recalled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
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
And the creator of the video is not known for his delicacy or tact.
From Slate ● Feb. 6, 2026
“What shall you do all your vacation?” asked Amy, changing the subject with tact.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
