tactic

A maneuver, or action calculated to achieve some end.

Adjective

  1. Tactical; of or relating to the art of military and naval tactics.
    • But time will teach the Russ, ev'n conquering War Has handmaid arts: aye, aye, the Russ will woo All sciences that speed Bellona's car, All murder's tactic arts, and win them too […] - 1831, Thomas Campbell, The Power...

    Synonyms: tactical

  2. Describing a polymer whose repeat units are identical

Origin

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

Forms

tactick

Derived

cistactic ditactic endotactic intertactic transtactic tritactic

Noun

  1. A maneuver, or action calculated to achieve some end.
    • Omar has challenged Elliott Abrams’s record in Latin America, taken a firm line against Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, and advocated for—wait for it—the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine (even though the...

    Synonyms: scheme stratagem plan maneuver course of action

    Coordinate Terms: strategy

  2. A maneuver used against an enemy.
  3. A sequence of moves that limits the opponent's options and results in an immediate and tangible advantage, typically in the form of material.

Forms

tactics tactick

Derived

counter-tactic countertactic delaying tactic delay tactic scare tactic