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

That’s a situation in which both sides of a potential conflict fear being attacked first, leading them to consider — and possibly launch — a preemptive strike to avoid being caught off guard. —Robert A. Pape, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025

Then there are the calls for judges’ heads, the preemptive accusations of electoral fraud, and the now all-too-familiar spectacle of a wild-eyed right-wing mob ransacking federal buildings after their guy Jair Bolsonaro lost the country’s presidential election. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 July 2025

Also, a preemptive strike on an American satellite worth $1 billion or more could be seen as an act of war. —Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025

There’s increasing Medicare costs to think about and, though both are currently healthy, preemptive medical care and other checkups to consider. —Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 2 July 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