tact
takt
/tækt/
Sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues; skill in avoiding giving offense.
Involves emotional intelligence and the ability to deliver difficult truths without causing pain or anger.
The story behind the word. Tact literally means 'the sense of touch.' In the early 19th century, French writers began using tact metaphorically to describe a 'delicate mental touch'—the ability to 'feel' a social situation and respond with perfect sensitivity. English borrowed this elegant metaphor, and it has remained a vital social skill ever since.
Word relationships
- diplomacy: Diplomacy is the broader art of managing international relations or negotiations, whereas tact is the specific, personal skill of saying the right thing in a delicate moment.
- tactlessness: Tactlessness is a lack of sensitivity or skill in dealing with others, leading to accidental offense.
Commonly confused with
- tack: A tack is a sharp pin or a direction of travel, whereas tact is social sensitivity.
Word family
- tactful (adjective): Having or showing tact.
- tactless (adjective): Lacking tact; blunt or insensitive.
Collocations
- diplomatic tact
- show tact
- lack of tact
Example sentences
- "With great tact, she steered the conversation away from the touchy subject of politics." Describing a difficult conversation
Memory hook
Think of 'tactile' (relating to touch). Tact is having a delicate 'touch' when handling sensitive human emotions. A delicate touch is tact.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'tack' (a small nail or a course of action).
Fun facts
- The words 'contact' and 'tangible' share the same Latin root tangere (to touch) with 'tact.'
Explore more words
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.