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

Who better than the Americans to lead the fascist renaissance, set the paradigm, order the preemptive strikes? —Henry Freedland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

One way to reduce the ambiguity is to use a jump to three no-trump as a shapely raise to game, better than a preemptive hand. —Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025

This sense of musical object impermanence is tied directly to the kind of preemptive doubt that Young expressed, and that Roan was effectively threatened with. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025

The move had a whiff of preemptive speech chilling — one that would be vulnerable to attacks regardless of intent. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Sep. 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