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

Monday followed Friday's quarterly options expiration, which clearly left tactical traders underexposed to a rally driven by Meta and high-beta semiconductors, leading to a mad rush for quick call-option exposure, which could fizzle just as quickly. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

Air, surface and cyber operations Lockheed Martin used its tactical environment simulation to recreate a mission involving air, surface, and cyber operations. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026

He was released on his own recognizance that day, with an arraignment scheduled the morning of the gunfight with a tactical team in Iowa Hill. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Seething supporters gathered near the pens’ main gate, hungry for confrontation, but men in camouflage and tactical vests whisked the two women away to a nearby staging area in a four-vehicle motorcade that slipped almost unnoticed out a side exit. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 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