tact

1. uncountableSensitive mental touch; special skill or faculty; keen perception or discernment; ready power of appreciating and doing what is required by circumstances; the ability to say the right thing and avoid statements that will give offence or pain even if true.First known use early 19th c.

   By the use of tact, she was able to calm her jealous husband.

   3 more examples

   I used tact when I told my fat uncle that his extra weight made him look better.

   He had formed plans not inferior in grandeur and boldness to those of Richelieu, and had carried them into effect with a tact and wariness worthy of Mazarin.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XI, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

   A tact which surpassed the tact of her sex as much as the tact of her sex surpassed the tact of ours.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XI, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

   Synonyms: sensitivity, consideration, diplomacy, tactfulness, discretion

2. uncountablePropriety; manners (etiquette).

plural tacts

1. countableuncountableThe sense of touch; feeling.First known use 1650s

   Now, sight is a very refined tact.

   1881, Joseph LeConte, Sight: An Exposition on the Principles of Monocular and Binocular Vision

   1 more example

   Did you suppose that I could not make myself sensible to tact as well as sight?

   1829, Robert Southey, “(please specify the page)”, in Sir Thomas More: or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC

2. countableuncountableentertainmentThe stroke in beating time.
3. countableuncountablehuman sciencesA verbal operant which is controlled by a nonverbal stimulus (such as an object, event, or property of an object) and is maintained by nonspecific social reinforcement (praise).

   Skinner (1957) saw such tacts as responses that are reinforced socially.

   2013, Jacob L. Gewirtz, William M. Kurtines, Jacob L. Lamb, Intersections With Attachment

present singular third person tacts · participle present tacting · participle past tacted · past tacted

1. human sciencesTo use a tact (a kind of verbal operant).

plural tacts

1. abbreviationclippingslangClipping of tactic.

   Wanda "Hey, can you show us?" Karen "No" Brent "We promise not to make fun of you." Karen "No" Lacey "Okay, we promise TO make fun of you." Karen "I'm getting a drink" Lacey "I was trying a different tact." Wanda "Bad tack."

   2006, “Block Party”, in Corner Gas