ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tactics

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtæktɪks// UK //tˈæktɪks// tac·tics

n. the specific actions or plans you use to win a game, finish a task, or reach a goal. It is often used when talking about sports, business, or games like chess.

n. the specific methods or procedures employed to achieve a particular end, especially in a competitive or strategic context. Often distinguished from strategy by its focus on immediate, short-term maneuvers rather than long-term goals.


SIMPLE

The team changed their tactics in the second half to win the game.

CONTEXTUAL

The marketing department used aggressive social media tactics to increase sales before the holiday season.

COMPLEX

While the overarching strategy remained sound, the failure to adapt local tactics to the shifting terrain led to a series of avoidable setbacks during the initial phase of the campaign.

Synonyms
Usage

Usually plural in form but can be treated as singular when referring to the science of planning. Often used with the verb 'employ' or 'adopt'.

Pitfall

The tactic are workingThe tactics are workingLearners often treat the plural form 'tactics' as a singular noun like 'information', but it usually takes a plural verb.

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