Tact
The ability to deal with people and delicate situations in a sensitive, considerate, and diplomatic way; choosing words and actions carefully to avoid offense.
nounTact
The ability to deal with people and delicate situations in a sensitive, considerate, and diplomatic way; choosing words and actions carefully to avoid offense.
nounImagine This
Imagine a mediator in a heated meeting who pauses before speaking, choosing words that acknowledge everyone's feelings and diffuse tension.
Sounds Like
takt (rhymes with 'fact'; sounds like 'tacked').
Looks Like
Looks like 'fact' (similar visual structure: four letters ending with -act).
Remember This
Tact is a hallmark of social intelligence. A tactful speaker can convey criticism or disagreement without provoking defensiveness.
Other Forms
Connect With
diplomacy, discretion, sensitivity, delicacy
Note
Use 'tact' as a noun; 'tactful' is the adjective form, and 'tactless' describes a lack of tact. Be careful not to confuse with similarly spelled words like 'tax' or 'tactic'.
Study Deeper
- Her tact during the salary discussion prevented the meeting from turning sour.
- The teacher handled the mistake with tact, praising the effort while offering guidance.
From Old French tact, from Latin tactus meaning 'touch'; ultimately from tangere 'to touch'.
TACT: Think Ahead, Consider Tones.
Next Word
Continue in alphabetical order.
Try a Random Word
Pick any word below to jump in.
Defy
verbTo openly challenge or refuse to obey; to resist, confront, or dare against someone or something.
Hardy
adjectiveCapable of enduring hardship; robust and resilient in difficult conditions.
Advocate
verbTo publicly support or defend a cause, policy, or proposal. As a noun, a person who publicly supports or defends a cause, or a lawyer.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).