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.
For a man who, by his own admission, struggles to find emotional balance, Pereira has gone a considerable way towards restoring a tactical one by sacrificing a little of the attacking freedom O’Neil created in exchange for more defensive control. Steve Madeley, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025 The best fractional partners should be able to demonstrate not just tactical execution but also strategic planning that aligns with your business objectives. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 Hayes said that mindset will apply to everything from recovery methods to strength and conditioning and even tactical information. Jessica Golden, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025 Ubisoft’s long-running tactical series got a fresh coat of paint in 2015, complete with a smart synergy of character powers and gadgets. Luke Winkie, Vulture, 1 Apr. 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 12 Apr. 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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