pre-emptive

pre-emptive |priˈɛmptɪv | ▶adjective serving or intended to pre-empt or forestall something, especially to prevent attack by disabling the enemy: a pre-emptive strike. • relating to the purchase of goods or shares by one person or party before the opportunity is offered to others: pre-emptive rights. • Bridge denoting a bid, typically an opening bid, intended to be so high that it prevents or interferes with effective bidding by the opponents. DERIVATIVES pre-emptively adverb