preemptive
adj. C1 Advanced US //pɹiˈɛmptɪv// pre·emp·tive
adj. done before something bad happens to stop it. You use this when you take action early to prevent a problem.
adj. done in advance of an expected event to prevent it or reduce its impact. Often used in legal, military, or strategic contexts to describe actions taken before a threat materializes.
The company took preemptive measures to protect its data.
The central bank raised interest rates preemptively to prevent the economy from overheating before the next quarter.
By filing the lawsuit preemptively, the firm aimed to establish legal precedent that would shield its future operations from similar regulatory challenges.
From preempt + -ive.