preemptive strike

American  

noun

Military.

1. an attack against an enemy in response to an obvious threat of attack by that enemy: because preemptive strikes are prompted more by clearly imminent danger than by speculation, they generally are considered acceptable in international law.

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preemptive strike Cultural  

1. A first-strike attack with nuclear weapons carried out to destroy an enemy's capacity to respond. A preemptive strike is based on the assumption that the enemy is planning an imminent attack.

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Etymology

Origin of preemptive strike

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Israeli government officials called the move a "preemptive strike" in an emergency message to citizens.

From Salon • Jun. 13, 2025

Meir matched Syrian efforts by mobilizing Israel troops, but resisted a preemptive strike due to concerns that such an action would result in the U.S. withdrawing its support.

From National Geographic • Sep. 12, 2023

Without the necessity of a lengthy liquid-fueling process, they are less vulnerable to detection and preemptive strike.

From Washington Times • Aug. 10, 2023

The new strategy includes developing a preemptive strike capability, a sharp break from Japan’s postwar commitment to limit its military to self-defense.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2023

The next morning, as another thousand children between the ages of six and eighteen gathered at a church to march, Connor unleashed a furious preemptive strike.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson