preemptive

American  

[pree-emp-tiv] / priˈɛmp tɪv /

Or pre-emptive

adjective

1. of or relating to preemption.

2. taken as a measure against something possible, anticipated, or feared; preventive; deterrent.

   a preemptive tactic against a ruthless business rival.

3. preempting or possessing the power to preempt; appropriative; privileged.

   a commander's preemptive authority.

4. Bridge. pertaining to, involving, or noting an opening bid or an overcall in a suit that is at an unnecessarily high level and that is essentially a defensive maneuver designed to make communication between one's opponents more difficult.

   a preemptive bid; to give a preemptive response.

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Other Word Forms

• preemptively adverb

Etymology

Origin of preemptive

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95; preempt + -ive

Example Sentences

Israeli officials described it as a preemptive attack to “remove threats to the State of Israel.”

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2026

Mark Taylor, former head of a Cambodia-based anti-trafficking NGO, said the "preemptive shifting of scam centre resources", including workers, equipment and managers, had been seen ahead of law enforcement sweeps.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

However, they think that the regulator’s preemptive tightening of rules reduces risk of more significant restrictions later on, and still see housing credit growth accelerating to 8% on-year by the middle of 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

Raab’s boss was sold, and instructed her to “take the novel off the table” in a preemptive deal that would prevent other publishers from bidding.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

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