nonstrategic

adjective

non·​stra·​te·​gic ˌnän-strə-ˈtē-jik How to pronounce nonstrategic (audio)
: not of, relating to, marked by, or concerned with strategy : not strategic
an unplanned, nonstrategic decision
nonstrategic forces/weapons
This isn't to say that tonight's post-debate spin circus won't serve a variety of nonstrategic aims. For starters, it's a necessary evil to keep the networks happy.Michelle Cottle

Examples of nonstrategic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Russian Defence Ministry | Via Reuters Tactical or nonstrategic nuclear weapons are designed for use on the battlefield and are able to erase specific targets, such as military bases or training centers. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2024 Unlike strategic nuclear weapons, which are always in a state of combat readiness, nonstrategic ones are stored in warehouses away from the bombers, missiles, or ships that are supposed to deliver them, Mr. Podvig said. Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 6 May 2024 Historically, great-power rivals, even those at war, have often maintained at least some trade in nonstrategic sectors and societal links with each other. Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023 Tom Davis, former Army artillery officer and at one time the chief of the nonstrategic nuclear forces branch on the joint staff. Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 17 Nov. 2022 Moscow’s force of these nonstrategic nuclear weapons has already shown its utility in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Stephen Fidler, WSJ, 2 Apr. 2023 For starters, a single detonation of a nonstrategic nuclear warhead could equal the power of the U.S. atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945 and cause thousands of casualties. Time, 4 Nov. 2022 According to the Defense Department, tactical nuclear weapons, sometimes called battlefield or nonstrategic nuclear weapons, were designed to be used on the battlefield. USA Today, 17 Oct. 2022 These are sometimes also called nonstrategic nuclear weapons. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonstrategic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonstrategic was in 1864

Dictionary Entries Near nonstrategic

Cite this Entry

“Nonstrategic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonstrategic. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

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