tactical

adjective

tac·​ti·​cal ˈtak-ti-kəl 

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

ˈtak-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• advisable
• desirable
• expedient
• judicious
• politic
• prudent
• wise

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

The stationing of these tactical weapons in Belarus, which shares a 673-mile border with Ukraine, enables Russian aircraft and missiles to target potential sites more efficiently. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Dispatchers were informed of the situation at about 1:26 a.m., with the first Indianapolis Fire Department tactical dive team arriving at 1:32 a.m. —Noe Padilla, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Dec. 2024

This kit has it all, including a folding pocket knife, emergency blanket, three-setting tactical flashlight, glow-in-the-dark compass, camp fire starter, wire saw, and six-in-one survival bracelet. —Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2024

This might be tactical language, or propaganda, or unimportant. —Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2024

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

Kids Definition

tactical

adjective

tac·​ti·​cal ˈtak-ti-kəl 

: of or relating to tactics

tactically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb