tact

[ takt ]

noun

1. 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

2. a keen sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, or aesthetically pleasing; taste; discrimination.
3. touch or the sense of touch.

tact

/ tækt /

noun

1. a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others, so as to avoid giving offence or to win good will; discretion
2. skill or judgment in handling difficult or delicate situations; diplomacy

Derived Forms

• ˈtactfully, adverb
• ˈtactful, adjective
• ˈtactfulness, noun
• ˈtactless, adjective
• ˈtactlessness, noun
• ˈtactlessly, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tact¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tact¹

C17: from Latin tactus a touching, from tangere to touch

Example Sentences

Banksy’s art, which tends to be graffitied by the artist on public buildings, at times does not remain in tact for long.

From BBC

And judicial tact, he said, required him to suppress his increasing discomfort with the direction of the Supreme Court.

From New York Times

And instead of pretending none of those things matter — or that they don’t exist — Scott Servais took a new tact with his hitters coming into this season.

From Seattle Times

Are their behavioural differences just random variations or do they also have a personal tact?

From Science Daily

“I have never found anyone who is nicer to work with, more intelligent, and whose judgment and tact are so superb,” Mr. Spivak told the Missouri newspaper The Springfield Leader and Press in 1970.

From New York Times

Related Words

• common-sense
• discretion
• prudence
• refinement
• sensitivity
• subtlety