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

Was she making her move into politics - or was her sudden appearance in the thick of it a tactical move to keep Imran Khan’s party afloat while he remains behind bars?

From BBC

"As a coach you can be so good with tactical and technical stuff, but if you are not emotional, you cannot have a connection with players, you cannot do nothing with a football team."

From BBC

"All the guns, all the bombs and all the large tactical knives."

From BBC

Whether tactical or not, the tariff threats could escalate — Mexico already said it could retaliate with counter-tariffs.

From Los Angeles Times

There are also concerns about whether Putin could choose to deploy “non-strategic”, often called tactical, nuclear weapons.

From BBC

Related Words

• diplomatic