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.
When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat. Katie Campione, Deadline, 8 July 2025 Most recently, a gunman in tactical gear opened fire on a Border Patrol facility in Texas. Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2025 Simultaneously, Norgaard offers defensive cover, primarily through interceptions and positioning, and is not afraid to make crunching tackles and commit tactical fouls. The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 7 July 2025 SMBs often expect a tactical provider to give strategic insight or a security provider to also deliver excellent desktop support. Nolan Garrett, Forbes.com, 7 July 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 11 Jul. 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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