Meanings
nounpre-emption (countable and uncountable, plural pre-emptions)
plural pre-emptions
- alternativecountableuncountableAlternative spelling of preemption.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe judicial principle asserting the supremacy of federal over state legislation on the same subject
Similar
Broader
legal principlejudicial principlejudicial doctrine
nounthe right of a government to seize or appropriate something (as property)
Similar
Broader
legal right
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Cite this entry
APA
pre-emption. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pre-emption
MLA
“pre-emption.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pre-emption. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pre-emption,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pre-emption.
Source: pre-emption on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.