These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tact. Send us feedback. French, sense of touch, from Latin tactus , from tangere to touch — more at tangent entry 2. See more words from the same year. Accessed 12 Nov. Nglish: Translation of tact for Spanish Speakers. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Log in Sign Up.
Save Word. Essential Meaning of tact. I was surprised by his lack of tact. Full Definition of tact. Did you know? Choose the Right Synonym for tact tact , address , poise , savoir faire mean skill and grace in dealing with others. Do you change tack or tact?
Examples of tact in a Sentence Far from joining polite society like the debutants of the past, the kids gleefully rip through social graces, alienating friends and sacrificing tact all in the name of creating a VIP room filled with people too young to drive themselves home. Recent Examples on the Web If Sebald the man ransacked lives unscrupulously, Sebald the artist did so with superb literary tact.
Coyle, Dallas News , 29 Sep. First Known Use of tact , in the meaning defined at sense 2. History and Etymology for tact French, sense of touch, from Latin tactus , from tangere to touch — more at tangent entry 2. Learn More About tact. Time Traveler for tact The first known use of tact was in See more words from the same year. From the Editors at Merriam-Webster. Do You Change 'Tack' or 'Tact'? For times when you need to switch course. Where Did the Definition of 'Tact' Come The meaning is easy — the practice is harder.
When communicating, listen to what the other person or people has to say. Watch for non-verbal communication, such as body language, and their tone of voice to help you understand their message. Hold back your own opinions and ideas until you have had chance to understand the other persons point-of-view, and then plan your responses carefully to fit with the feedback you are receiving.
See our pages Active Listening and Barriers to Effective Listening for more about essential listening skills. Mutual sacrifice is usually seen more favourably than one-sided sacrifice. Aim to reach a compromise which results in a win-win situation.
See our pages on Negotiation for more. Strengthen your argument by offering time-scales of when you foresee the benefit of your proposals being reached. Be precise in giving figures and dates. Favour logic and fact over personal opinion. Have something written or drawn out in advance, if it helps. If possible turn statements into questions. Rather than directly voicing your opinion, turn your statement into a question for the other person to think about.
This not only leads somebody to think along the same lines as you but also makes room for discussion of what interests you and what may potentially benefit both parties.
This is particularly useful if you are not entirely sure what you are able to achieve or exactly what is needed to overcome a problem. This strategy often allows for more exploration of options — a more open approach than just stating your opinion. See our pages Questioning and Question Types for more information on effective questioning techniques.
If the conversation gets heated, try to give yourself room to respond in ways that help rather than inflame a situation. If you can, catch yourself at the moment your gut reaction wants to take over: take a breath and give yourself time.
Tell the other person that you need to think about what they just said, rather than feel obliged to answer immediately. Take control of a situation rather than becoming out of control and risk saying or doing something you may later regret.
Taking control of social situations in a way that leaves both parties feeling comfortable with the outcome is an important part of showing tact and diplomacy. Keep your preferred outcome in mind, try not to get distracted, go off on a tangent or get bogged down in irrelevant details.
Remember to be assertive — being tactful and diplomatic does not mean bowing to pressure or giving up on what you want. See our pages on Assertiveness for more information. Our Communication Skills eBooks. Learn more about the key communication skills you need to be an effective communicator. Our eBooks are ideal for anyone who wants to learn about or develop their communication skills, and are full of easy-to-follow practical information and exercises.
Always strive for a win-win outcome, that way you will increase your chance of negotiating problematic situations successfully while all parties can feel happier about any compromises made during the process.
For some, this comes easier than for others. See also: Compassion Negotiation Assertiveness.
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