tactical

[ tak-ti-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to tactics, especially the placement of military or naval forces in battle or at the front line of a battle.
2. characterized by skillful tactics or adroit maneuvering or procedure, especially of military or naval forces:

   tactical movements.

3. (of a weapon) short range, as battlefield missiles: Compare strategic ( def 4b ).

   A tactical nuclear weapon would still present significant risks to battlefield troops on both sides of the conflict.

4. of or relating to a maneuver or plan of action designed as an expedient toward gaining a desired end or temporary advantage.
5. expedient; calculated.
6. prudent; politic.

tactical

/ ˈtæktɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or employing tactics

   a tactical error

2. (of weapons, attacks, etc) used in or supporting limited military operations

   tactical bombing

   a tactical missile

3. skilful or diplomatic

   a tactical manoeuvre

Derived Forms

• ˈtactically, adverb

Other Words From

• tac·ti·cal·ly adverb
• non·tac·ti·cal adjective
• non·tac·ti·cal·ly adverb
• un·tac·ti·cal adjective
• un·tac·ti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tactical¹

First recorded in 1560–70; tactic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Because of those tactical advantages, we might expect the Chiefs to be clear favorites over the Buccaneers on Sunday.

From FiveThirtyEight

Here, in part two, we speak a bit more tactical, about how content and search.

From 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.

From Search Engine Land

A single tactical error can cost precious seconds or minutes that are hard to claw back.

From 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.

From Nautilus

“So, about good for one tactical burst,” the first Air Force official said.

From The Daily Beast

The “tactical” side of artillery—its use on a battlefield—was something Jackson was not called upon to explain.

From The Daily Beast

They thought in their minds the drones had a tactical advantage, so they allowed them to continue for quite some time.

From The Daily Beast

The Russian Air Force also flew additional sorties over the Baltic Sea with tactical strike fighters on Oct. 29.

From The Daily Beast

Nobody really has the control in the tactical environment.

From The Daily Beast

When, however, the retreat was at last ordered, Ney showed to the full his immense tactical ability.

From Project Gutenberg

King Robert's military renown does not need the false attribution of tactical discoveries that he certainly did not make.

From Project Gutenberg

Tactical use, by the enemy, of the more resilient units of the Landsturm for negotiating Belgian dykes.

From Project Gutenberg

The art of leadership consists of applying sound tactical principles to concrete cases on the battlefield.

From Project Gutenberg

What fire superiority accomplishes; psychological moment for charge determined by tactical instinct.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• diplomatic