adj.1 of or serving the ends of strategy (strategic considerations).
2 (of materials) essential in fighting a war.
3 (of bombing or weapons) done or for use against an enemy's home territory as a longer-term military objective (opp. TACTICAL).
Phrases and idioms:
strategic defence initiative a projected US system of defence against nuclear weapons using satellites.
Derivatives:
strategical adj. strategically adv. strategics n.pl. (usu. treated as sing.).
Etymology: F strat{eacute}gique f. Gk strategikos (as STRATAGEM)