tactical

adjective

tac·​ti·​cal ˈtak-ti-kəl 

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

ˈtak-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of tactical

• prudent
• desirable
• wise
• possible
• politic

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

As defense programs push AI capabilities closer to the tactical edge, systems must analyze information where it is collected instead of relying on distant computing resources. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026

This game was top-class entertainment, showcased both teams’ tactical flexibility, and could have ended with a very different scoreline. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 June 2026

Leveraged ETFs, the most popular of which target tech companies that have powered the bull market, bring daily rebalancing flows regularly in excess of $20 billion, according to an analysis from Barclays equities tactical strategies. — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 24 June 2026

At the scene, CMPD brought in three armored vehicles and a mobile tactical shield designed to transport officers into potentially hazardous situations. — Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026

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

Rhymes for tactical

• practical
• impractical
• syntactical
• unpractical

Kids Definition

tactical

adjective

tac·​ti·​cal ˈtak-ti-kəl 

: of or relating to tactics

tactically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb