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
My family lay square in the crosshairs of tactical regions at play in Benito Mussolini’s alliance with Adolf Hitler, who sent German soldiers to occupy much of Italy in the opening months of the war.
—
Jackie Charniga, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
Blitzer, the chairman of Blackstone’s tactical opportunities group, is the only person Sportico is aware of who has investments in all five major U.S. sports leagues.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 25 Feb. 2025
She was mortally wounded and lay on the ground nearly an hour before tactical officers were able to secure her rescue.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 24 Feb. 2025
Host Toni Collis’ in-depth interviews with tech leaders and founders dig into the barriers and opportunities in this fast-moving industry, providing both strategic insights and tactical tips.
—Cynthia Pong, Jd, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tactical
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Jackie Charniga, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
Blitzer, the chairman of Blackstone’s tactical opportunities group, is the only person Sportico is aware of who has investments in all five major U.S. sports leagues.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 25 Feb. 2025
She was mortally wounded and lay on the ground nearly an hour before tactical officers were able to secure her rescue.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 24 Feb. 2025
Host Toni Collis’ in-depth interviews with tech leaders and founders dig into the barriers and opportunities in this fast-moving industry, providing both strategic insights and tactical tips.
—Cynthia Pong, Jd, Forbes, 23 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 2025.
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