English Reference
adjective

tactic

adj.
US /ˈtæktɪk/ UK /tˈæktɪk/ tac·tic

  1. 01 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    describing a plastic-like material where the parts are arranged in a very regular pattern.

    describing a polymer in which the repeating units have a specific, identical configuration along the chain.

    Simple

    The scientist studied the tactic structure of the new plastic material.

    In context

    The physical properties of the polymer are significantly influenced by whether the chain is tactic or atactic in its molecular arrangement.

    atactic

That tactic irritated the American side and was part of the push to impose these new tariffs in a way force Canada to the table.

Toronto Sun· 14 Aug 2026

Seduction in the pursuit of secrets exploits the intimacy of sex and the sometimes irrational depths of desire: is it any wonder that it’s a tactic in the great game of spycraft?

JSTOR Daily· 10 Aug 2026

Borrowed from New Latin tactica, from Ancient Greek τακτικός (taktikós, “fit for ordering”), from τάσσω (tássō, “to order, to arrange”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek τακτικός
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated