tactical
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.done as part of a clever plan to get what you want.
adj.relating to small-scale actions or manoeuvres designed to achieve a specific, immediate end.
Simple“The team made a tactical decision to wait for the other side to make the first move.”
In context“The CEO's tactical retreat from the merger negotiations allowed the company to re-evaluate its market position without losing face.”
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to small, local military actions rather than a big, long-term war plan.
adj.pertaining to the actual deployment and direction of forces in a specific engagement or battle.
Simple“The soldiers used tactical maps to plan their route through the forest.”
In context“The commander focused on tactical advantages, such as high ground and cover, rather than the broader strategic implications of the campaign.”
UsageOften used in contrast with 'strategic' to distinguish between local battles and overall war goals.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describes clothing or gear that is designed to be useful and tough, often looking like military equipment.
adj.denoting equipment or clothing designed for functional utility in high-stress environments, often featuring modular attachments or rugged materials.
Simple“He bought a tactical backpack with lots of extra pockets for his hiking gear.”
In context“The law enforcement officers were issued tactical vests equipped with integrated communication systems and ballistic protection.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a tool used in computer programming to help prove that a piece of math or logic is correct.
n.a higher-order function or combinator used in interactive theorem proving to automate the application of multiple proof steps.
Simple“The programmer wrote a new tactical to handle the repetitive parts of the proof.”
In context“By implementing a custom tactical, the researcher significantly reduced the manual effort required to verify the security properties of the kernel.”
Synonymscombinator
“This reduces the potential for tactical bad challenges to get a team reduced to 10 men.”
“We saw anti-Reform tactical voting and turnout play out in Makerfield and in Gorton and Denton.” Tryl said he heard from “both sides” in his Clacton focus groups.”
From tactic + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.