抢先的;(尤指)先发制人的If something is pre-emptive, it is done before other people can act, especially to prevent them from doing something else.
The Treasury has decided to raise interest rates as a pre-emptive measure against inflation. 财政部决定加息,以此作为一项防止通货膨胀的预防性措施。
The prime minister authorized a pre-emptive air strike against the rebels. 首相批准了对叛乱分子进行空袭,先发制人。
We strongly oppose this misguided preemptive war.