| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| preemptive |
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| SYLLABICATION: | pre·emp·tive |
| PRONUNCIATION: |  pr - mp t v |
| VARIANT FORMS: | or pre-emp·tive |
| ADJECTIVE: | 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of preemption. 2. Having or granted by the right of preemption. 3a. Relating to or constituting a military strike made so as to gain the advantage when an enemy strike is believed to be imminent: a preemptive nuclear attack. b. Undertaken or initiated to deter or prevent an anticipated, usually unpleasant situation or occurrence: The two companies organized a preemptive alliance against a possible takeover by another firm. 4. Having or marked by the power to preempt or take precedence: a preemptive business offer; preemptive authority. 5. Games Relating to or being a bid in bridge at a high level that is intended to interfere with the opponents' bidding. | | OTHER FORMS: | pre·emptive·ly —ADVERB
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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