preemptive

adjective

pre·​emp·​tive prē-ˈem(p)-tiv 

1

a

: of or relating to preemption

b

: having power to preempt

2

of a bid in bridge : higher than necessary and intended to shut out bids by the opponents

3

: giving a stockholder first option to purchase new stock in an amount proportionate to his existing holdings

4

: marked by the seizing of the initiative : initiated by oneself

a preemptive attack

preemptively adverb

Examples of preemptive in a Sentence

The country took preemptive action against the perceived enemy.

a preemptive attack by the army

Recent Examples on the Web

An International Atomic Energy Agency report declared Iran was not in compliance with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations shortly before Israel’s massive preemptive strike against the country. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025

Mossad gives rare glimpse at its operations inside Iran The Mossad published footage of its operatives carrying out covert actions inside Iran prior to Israel's preemptive attack. —Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025

Fearing that Iran’s decadeslong nuclear enrichment program was geared toward development of a nuclear weapon, Israel has long considered carrying out a preemptive strike. —Shoshanna Solomon, Christian Science Monitor, 13 June 2025

Kagan cited the preemptive incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II as an example of a presidential action that was at the time endorsed by the courts but later widely deemed both unconstitutional and morally wrong. —Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 9 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for preemptive

• exemptive
• redemptive

Legal Definition

preemptive

adjective

pre·​emp·​tive prē-ˈemp-tiv 

: of or relating to preemption