Präemptive

Préemptive, sometimes written preemptive in English, is an adjective describing actions taken to prevent or forestall a potential threat, problem, or unwanted development. The term appears across multiple fields, where the goal is to reduce risk by acting before an anticipated event occurs.

In military and international relations, a préemptive or preemptive strike is launched to neutralize an imminent threat before it materializes. This is often contrasted with preventive strategies aimed at diminishing potential threats that are not considered immediately imminent. The legality and justification of preemptive actions are debated in international law, depending on context and perceptions of immediacy and proportionality.

In medicine and public health, préemptive therapy or treatment refers to initiating intervention before the onset of clinical illness, typically guided by exposure history, diagnostic markers, or risk assessment. Examples include early antiviral therapy after a known exposure or prophylactic measures in high-risk settings, where the aim is to prevent disease progression or transmission rather than treat established disease.

In information technology, préemptive scheduling, or preemption, is a mechanism by which a running process can be interrupted by the operating system to assign CPU time to a higher-priority task. This approach improves responsiveness and system utilization, especially in real-time or interactive environments.

In law and finance, préemption rights (often called preemptive rights) grant current owners or shareholders a first option to buy new shares or property before outsiders can acquire them, preserving proportional ownership or priority.

Etymologically, the term derives from Latin praeeptio, meaning “taking beforehand,” and entered English via French. The concept centers on proactive measures designed to avert adverse outcomes.