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 the stockholder's 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

Consolidated threat visibility and preemptive defense aren’t optional anymore. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

This preemptive caretaking also prevents people from growing out of egocentric thinking. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

According to the team, future studies could assess how animals sense threat levels and adjust their preemptive behavior. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 July 2026

Like Vieques, the community of Calistoga, population 5,200, is vulnerable to grid outages due to wildfires in the region that force preemptive power shutoffs for safety. — IEEE Spectrum, 15 July 2026

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