tactical

adjective

tac·​ti·​cal ˈtak-ti-kəl How to pronounce tactical (audio)
1
: of or relating to combat tactics: such as
a(1)
: of or occurring at the battlefront
a tactical defense
a tactical first strike
(2)
: using or being weapons or forces employed at the battlefront
tactical missiles
b
of an air force : of, relating to, or designed for air attack in close support of friendly ground forces
2
a
: of or relating to tactics: such as
(1)
: of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose
(2)
: made or carried out with only a limited or immediate end in view
b
: adroit in planning or maneuvering to accomplish a purpose
tactically adverb

Examples of tactical in a Sentence

They gained a tactical advantage by joining with one of their competitors. He made a serious tactical error. The planes provided tactical air support for the soldiers on the ground.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
They’re required to see the race from inside the car (immersed in the on-track action), but also from the pits (making tactical adjustments) and from the operations center (where analysts interpret vast streams of data). John Cairney, Sportico.com, 22 Mar. 2025 In contrast, Barca and Atleti have recognizable tactical strategies. Brett Koremenos, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025 Leadership Development is an Inside-Out Journey For years, leadership development was taught as a tactical journey. Tarun Galagali, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 District tactical officers guarding the store’s doorway sprinted into a nearby squad car. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tactical

Word History

Etymology

tactic entry 1 or tactic entry 2 + -al entry 1

Note: An early use by the mathematician and occultist John Dee in his preface to Henry Billingsley's translation of Euclid's Elements (1570) is perhaps directly from Greek taktikós + -al entry 1.

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tactical was in 1570

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Cite this Entry

“Tactical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tactical. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

tactical

adjective
tac·​ti·​cal ˈtak-ti-kəl How to pronounce tactical (audio)
: of or relating to tactics
tactically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tactical

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