Tact

Quick meaning: Tact is a noun meaning Propriety; manners (etiquette).

Meaning

Propriety; manners (etiquette).

More Meanings

1. The sense of touch; feeling.
2. (music) The stroke in beating time.
3. (psychology) To use a tact (a kind of verbal operant).
4. (psychology) A 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).
5. Sensitive 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.
6. (slang) Clipping of tactic.

Example Sentences

Now, sight is a very refined tact.

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

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

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

Word Forms

• tacts
• tacting
• tacted

Synonyms for tact

Depending on context, synonyms include sensitivity, consideration, diplomacy, tactfulness, discretion.

Antonyms for tact

Common opposites include tactlessness.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include tactfulness, feel, sensitivity, finesse, delicacy, touch.

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