tactic

noun

tac·tic | \ˈtak-tik

Definition of tactic

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a device for accomplishing an end

2 : a method of employing forces in combat

tactic

adjective

Definition of tactic (Entry 2 of 3)

: of or relating to arrangement or order

-tactic

adjective combining form

Definition of -tactic (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : of, relating to, or having (such) an arrangement or pattern paratactic

2 : showing orientation or movement directed by a (specified) force or agent geotactic

Examples of tactic in a Sentence

Noun

an effective tactic for solving crimes We may need to change tactics. a specialist in naval tactics

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Every few months, Google would cotton on to the group's tactics and begin blocking its messages. — Raphael Satter, chicagotribune.com, "Elusive Russian hackers unmasked by U.S. special counsel," 13 July 2018 The risky strategy allows earlier plaintiffs to send signals about legal tactics and their award amounts to women who bring cases later. — New York Times, "Johnson & Johnson Told to Pay $4.7 Billion in Baby Powder Lawsuit," 12 July 2018 Photo: Christian Charisius/DPA/ZUMA PRESS Emirates also experimented with tactics some other airlines had adopted from budget carriers. — Nicolas Parasie, WSJ, "Chateau Margaux for Seat 2A: Emirates Rewrites Rules for Airlines," 12 July 2018 Other researchers are focusing on different tactics. — Chelsea Harvey, Scientific American, "Cement Producers Are Developing a Plan to Reduce CO2 Emissions," 9 July 2018 In various degrees of bluntness, screenwriter/director/executive producer James DeMonaco had a few things to say about the fearmongering tactics that would ultimately put him there. — Michael Phillips, The Seattle Times, "‘The First Purge’: Violent, erratic prequel shows how it all began," 3 July 2018 Instead, he was met with unprecedented legislative tactics that began with deliberate sabotage of an economic recovery and ended with the successful theft of a Supreme Court seat all long before Trump emerged as the dominant conservative figure. — Matthew Yglesias, Vox, "Donald Trump, the resistance, and the limits of normcore politics," 3 July 2018 In addition to disagreements on immigration policy, Democrats are fighting over tactics. — Michael Smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Immigration reform seems impossible now ... and forever?," 1 July 2018 At the summit, Trump will be dealing with a former KGB officer who thinks strategically and masters details, as opposed to the president’s focus on short-term tactics and hoopla. — Trudy Rubin, Philly.com, "Analysis: Trump gets his summit with Putin. Watch out! | Trudy Rubin," 27 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tactic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for tactic

Noun

New Latin tactica, from Greek taktikē, from feminine of taktikos

Adjective

New Latin tacticus, from Greek taktikos

Adjective combining form

Greek taktikos

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Dictionary Entries near tactic

Phrases Related to tactic

delaying tactic

shock tactics

Statistics for tactic

Last Updated

5 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for tactic

The first known use of tactic was in 1640

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More Definitions for tactic

tactic

noun

English Language Learners Definition of tactic

: an action or method that is planned and used to achieve a particular goal

tactics : the activity or skill of organizing and moving soldiers and equipment in a military battle

See the full definition for tactic in the English Language Learners Dictionary

tactic

noun

tac·tic | \ˈtak-tik

Kids Definition of tactic

: a planned action for some purpose “All that kid does is cry and he gets his way.” … “If I tried that tactic, my parents would just say, ‘Grow up.’ …”— Pam Zollman, Don't Bug Me!