Strategic
adjective /strəˈtiːdʒɪk/ — Planned deliberately with a long-term goal in mind — not reactive, but shaped.
Definition
Relating to the identification of long-term goals and the means of achieving them; carefully considered in terms of overall aim and approach rather than immediate circumstance.
Beyond the definition
Strategic is the word that separates those who respond from those who plan. It implies someone operating from a map rather than improvising. The strategic thinker sees the board a few moves ahead.
Origin & history
From Greek strategos — general (stratos: army + agein: to lead). The vocabulary of generals applied to the boardroom. Strategy is the art of positioning before the battle.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her silence at the meeting was strategic — she waited until everyone else had committed before speaking.
The company made a strategic decision to sacrifice short-term profit for long-term market position.
He was strategic about everything, which made him effective but occasionally exhausting to be around.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Strategic” when the meaning fits your context: Relating to the identification of long-term goals and the means of achieving them; carefully considered in terms of overall aim and approach rather than immediate circumstance.
Synonyms
deliberate, planned, calculated, tactical, purposeful
Antonyms
reactive, impulsive, haphazard
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Team planning with careful consideration
A leader reviews a map and model with colleagues at a table, hands open and posture composed.
The team is shown reviewing plans with unhurried cooperation. The scene captures the nuance of strategic identification of long-term goals versus immediate reaction through careful, collective assessment of visual models.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Strategic" mean?
Strategic is adjective meaning: Planned deliberately with a long-term goal in mind — not reactive, but shaped.. Relating to the identification of long-term goals and the means of achieving them; carefully considered in terms of overall aim and approach rather than immediate circumstance.
Where does the word "Strategic" come from?
From Greek strategos — general (stratos: army + agein: to lead). The vocabulary of generals applied to the boardroom. Strategy is the art of positioning before the battle.