NYT Dictionary

TACTICALLY

/ˈtæktɪkəlliː/
AdverbTAC-ti-cal-lytac-ti-cal-ly · 4 syllablesCollege

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

in a tactical manner; in a manner calculated to achieve some end.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g-der. Proto-Hellenic *tat͏̌t͏̌ō Ancient Greek τάσσω (tássō) Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Hellenic *-tis Ancient Greek -τῐς (-tĭs) Ancient Greek -σῐς (-sĭs) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) ? Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Hellenic *-tós Ancient Greek -τος (-tos) ▲ Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) ? Ancient Greek -τικός (-tikós) Ancient Greek τακτικός (taktikós)bor. New Latin tacticabor. English tactic English -al English tactical Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English tactically From tactical + -ly.

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 5 recorded puzzles:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.