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
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
In theory, Slot’s tactical out-of-possession shuffle to a staggered 4-3-3 should help Liverpool to defend on their right flank, but the ease with which Chelsea exploited the space was a culmination of weeks of warning signs.
—
Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
These tactical alliances should not be mistaken for strategic realignment.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Abbott also directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Texas National Guard to deploy aircraft and other tactical assets.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Since its launch in 2012, the roguelike space and ‘spaceship management’ subgenres have seen more complex games arrive, yet none have captured FTL’s accessible, brutal, and supremely entertaining approach to tactical ship combat, space exploration, and ship operation.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tactical
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Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
These tactical alliances should not be mistaken for strategic realignment.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Abbott also directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Texas National Guard to deploy aircraft and other tactical assets.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Since its launch in 2012, the roguelike space and ‘spaceship management’ subgenres have seen more complex games arrive, yet none have captured FTL’s accessible, brutal, and supremely entertaining approach to tactical ship combat, space exploration, and ship operation.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tactical
Cite this Entry
“Tactical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tactical. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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