What does "tactical" mean?

1. (carefully planned) done as part of a clever plan to get what you want. 2. (military operations) relating to small, local military actions rather than a big, long-term war plan. 3. (functional equipment) describes clothing or gear that is designed to be useful and tough, often looking like military equipment. 4. (computing/logic) a tool used in computer programming to help prove that a piece of math or logic is correct.

How do you use "tactical"?

Often used in contrast with 'strategic' to distinguish between local battles and overall war goals.

tactical

adj. · n.

US //ˈtæktɪkəɫ// UK //tˈæktɪkəl// tac·ti·cal

1 carefully planned (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

done as part of a clever plan to get what you want.

relating to small-scale actions or manoeuvres designed to achieve a specific, immediate end.

Example

The team made a tactical decision to wait for the other side to make the first move.

Example

The CEO's tactical retreat from the merger negotiations allowed the company to re-evaluate its market position without losing face.
- random
- unplanned
2 military operations (adj.)
C1 Advanced Technical

relating to small, local military actions rather than a big, long-term war plan.

pertaining to the actual deployment and direction of forces in a specific engagement or battle.

Example

The soldiers used tactical maps to plan their route through the forest.

Example

The commander focused on tactical advantages, such as high ground and cover, rather than the broader strategic implications of the campaign.

Usage

Often used in contrast with 'strategic' to distinguish between local battles and overall war goals.
- combat
- operational
- strategic

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3 functional equipment (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

describes clothing or gear that is designed to be useful and tough, often looking like military equipment.

denoting equipment or clothing designed for functional utility in high-stress environments, often featuring modular attachments or rugged materials.

Example

He bought a tactical backpack with lots of extra pockets for his hiking gear.

Example

The law enforcement officers were issued tactical vests equipped with integrated communication systems and ballistic protection.
- utilitarian
- rugged
- decorative
4 computing/logic (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

a tool used in computer programming to help prove that a piece of math or logic is correct.

a higher-order function or combinator used in interactive theorem proving to automate the application of multiple proof steps.

Example

The programmer wrote a new tactical to handle the repetitive parts of the proof.

Example

By implementing a custom tactical, the researcher significantly reduced the manual effort required to verify the security properties of the kernel.
- combinator

Origin

From tactic + -al.

Word family

Adjectivetactical
Adverbtactically