: done to stop an unwanted act by another group, country, etc., from happening
The country took preemptive action against the perceived enemy.
a preemptive attack/strike by the army
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“Preemptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/preemptive. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.
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