English▸ noun
1 an action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end:
the minority attempted to control the Council by a delaying tactic
these are possible tax-saving tactics to discuss with your accountant.
2 [also treated as singular] (tactics) the art of disposing armed forces in order of battle and of organizing operations, especially during contact with an enemy. Often contrasted with strategy:
basic infantry tactics were taught by guest instructors.
– ORIGIN mid 18th century: from modern Latin tactica, from Greek taktikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of tactics’, feminine of taktikos, from taktos ‘ordered, arranged’, from the base of tassein ‘arrange’.