See Also: empt(dictionary)
pre-empt(1)(dictionary)
pre-empt(2)(dictionary)
pre-empt(dictionary)

pre-empt (oh)



[Date: 1800-1900; Origin: preemption (17-21 centuries), from Medieval Latin praeemere 'to buy before']
to make what someone has planned to do or say unnecessary or ineffective by saying or doing something first
::The deal pre-empted a strike by rail workers.
AmE to replace a television show with a special programme or report
::Regular programming was preempted by a report on the war.
-- pre-emption /-5empFEn/ n [U]