US /pɹiːˈɛmp.tɪv/
adj Freq #32677

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    designed or having the power to deter or prevent an anticipated situation or occurrence

    A preemptive business offer.

  2. 2
    adj

    Made so as to deter an anticipated unpleasant situation.

    A preemptive attack on the enemy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · designed or having the... pre-emptive
Opposites
postemptive
Word family
Derived forms nonpreemptiveprebuttalpreemptively

Etymology

From preempt + -ive.

Topics

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