tact

[takt] /tækt/
noun
1.
a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.
2.
a keen sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, or aesthetically pleasing; taste; discrimination.
3.
touch or the sense of touch.
Origin
1150-1200; < Latin tāctus sense of touch, equivalent to tag-, variant stem of tangere to touch + -tus suffix of v. action
Can be confused
tack, tact, track, tract.
Synonyms
1. perception, sensitivity; diplomacy, poise.
Examples from the web for tact
  • tact and grace go a long way no matter what the negotiation.
  • The tread was in tact on the tire that failed today.
  • The dandy's strategy is to combine daring with tact, flamboyance with distance.
  • Prudence and tact compelled me to say little on this point.
  • His tact and caution often made him the only go-between available for mending fences.
  • Use wisdom and tact to direct energies into constructive avenues.
  • One is the rear arm rests, cigarette lighters and center arm rest are still in-tact and still working.
  • It will require a lot of energy, tact and political muscle.
British Dictionary definitions for tact

tact

/tækt/
noun
1.
a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others, so as to avoid giving offence or to win good will; discretion
2.
skill or judgment in handling difficult or delicate situations; diplomacy
Derived Forms
tactful, adjective
tactfully, adverb
tactfulness, noun
tactless, adjective
tactlessly, adverb
tactlessness, noun
Word Origin
C17: from Latin tactus a touching, from tangere to touch
Word Origin and History for tact
n.

1650s, "sense of touch or feeling" (with an isolated instance from c.1200), from Latin tactus "touch, feeling, handling, sense of touch," from root of tangere "to touch" (see tangent). Meaning "sense of "discernment, diplomacy, etc." first recorded 1804, from a sense that developed in French cognate tact.

Related Abbreviations for tact

TACT

total audit concept technique