pre-emptive

British  

/ prɪˈɛmptɪv /

adjective

1. of, involving, or capable of pre-emption

2. bridge (of a high bid) made to shut out opposition bidding

3. military designed to reduce or destroy an enemy's attacking strength before it can use it

   a pre-emptive strike

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Other Word Forms

• pre-emptively adverb

Example Sentences

In July, pre-emptive vaccination permission brought Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK.

From BBC

“Whether today’s move was pre-emptive and designed to neutralize an activist attack is a question best put to Folliard and his advisors,” added Bilson.

From Barron's

He played a crucial role in building the antiterror policy architecture that has kept the U.S. safe—taking the war to the terrorists overseas, pre-emptive killing of killers, interrogations to yield intelligence, and more.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, it was seen by some as a pre-emptive strike against any attempt at future regulation.

From BBC

Russian officials worried that U.S. missile defenses made a pre-emptive strike on Russia more conceivable for Washington, as they would allow it to parry any retaliatory strike.

From The Wall Street Journal