strategic

[ struh-tee-jik ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of strategy:

   strategic movements.

2. important in or essential to strategy.

   Synonyms: principal, key, crucial, critical, opportune

3. (of an action, as a military operation or a move in a game) forming an integral part of a stratagem:

   a strategic move in a game of chess.

4. Military.
   1. intended to render the enemy incapable of making war, as by the destruction of materials, factories, etc.:

      a strategic bombing mission.

   2. (of a weapon) long range, as an intercontinental ballistic missile: Compare tactical ( def 3 ).

      Strategic nuclear weapons were the linchpin of the Mutual Assured Destruction doctrine at the height of the Cold War.

   3. essential to the conduct of a war:

      Copper is a strategic material.

strategic

/ strəˈtiːdʒɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of strategy
2. important to a strategy or to strategy in general
3. (of weapons, attacks, etc) directed against an enemy's homeland rather than used on a battlefield

   a strategic missile

   strategic bombing

Derived Forms

• straˈtegically, adverb

Other Words From

• stra·te·gi·cal·ly adverb
• non·stra·te·gic adjective
• non·stra·te·gi·cal adjective
• un·stra·te·gic adjective
• un·stra·te·gi·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of strategic¹

First recorded in 1815–25; from Greek stratēgikós, equivalent to stratēg(ós) “general” ( strategy ) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

We have to be smarter and more strategic, which I fully admit is easier said than done.

From Salon

Published in the journal Electronics, the results also show that disengagement resulted in a 4.2 second delay in decision-making time for remote drivers when they needed to step in and make critical strategic decisions.

From Science Daily

The reduction in its footprint is part of the company’s “strategic plan to improve business performance,” according to a statement released as part of its recent quarterly earnings report.

From Los Angeles Times

The air force said that Russia sent a salvo of nine missiles toward the Dnipro region, including an air-launched ballistic missile fired from a MIG-31 fighter and seven cruise missiles launched from strategic bombers.

From New York Times

Ahead of any talks Mykola Bielieskov of the National Institute for Strategic Studies in Kyiv believes the key is to prevent any major Russian breakthrough in the east.

From BBC

Related Words

• critical
• important
• key
• vital