Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

prebuttal

American  
[pri-buht-l, pree-] / prɪˈbʌt l, pri- /

noun

  1. an argument constructed in anticipation of a criticism.

    The alderman began his speech with a question-answer style prebuttal.


prebuttal British  
/ priːˈbʌtəl /

noun

  1. informal a prepared response to an anticipated criticism

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of prebuttal

First recorded in 1980–85; pre- + (re)buttal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In a prebuttal video posted across his social media, Brand said he was about to face “very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” without detailing them.

From New York Times • Nov. 13, 2023

Nunes, who had read Hill’s written testimony, delivered a prebuttal before she delivered it.

From Washington Post • Nov. 21, 2019

“The White House fully cooperated with the Special Counsel’s investigation, providing unfettered access to campaign and White House documents,” he said in his prebuttal press conference.

From The Guardian • Apr. 18, 2019

Sen. Kamala Harris, fresh off her formidable campaign rollout, got things started with a live-streamed prebuttal a little more than an hour before Trump walked into the lower chamber.

From Slate • Feb. 6, 2019

On Tuesday morning, Schumer took the unusual step of delivering a prebuttal to Trump’s speech from the floor of the Senate.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 6, 2019

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "prebuttal" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com