tactics
Americannoun
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(usually used with a singular verb) the art or science of disposing military or naval forces for battle and maneuvering them in battle.
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(used with a plural verb) the maneuvers themselves.
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(used with a singular verb) any mode of procedure for gaining advantage or success.
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(usually used with a singular verb)
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the patterns in which the elements of a given level or stratum in a language may combine to form larger constructions.
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the study and description of such patterns.
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plural noun
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(functioning as singular) military the art and science of the detailed direction and control of movement or manoeuvre of forces in battle to achieve an aim or task
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the manoeuvres used or plans followed to achieve a particular short-term aim
Related Words
See strategy.
Other Word Forms
- countertactics noun
- tactician noun
Etymology
Origin of tactics
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But a New York City Department of Investigation report found the SRG’s tactics during the protests “may have unnecessarily provoked confrontations between police and protesters.”
“But I think that force, period, should be a last resort. I would appreciate seeing more de-escalation tactics as opposed to use of any sort of force.”
From Los Angeles Times
“That’s an alert to double-check the whole area and maybe we need to switch our tactics.”
From Los Angeles Times
Its new marketing tactics still haven’t been enough to shield Lucid from a challenging EV environment.
From Los Angeles Times
They became known for their entrepreneurial spirit and bold use of unconventional materials, with some at the time saying they used "shock tactics" to create their art.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
