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pre-emption

pre-emption

8.4
A right to buy or take something before others, usually because of a law
  • noun
  • /priˈɛmptʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : derecho de tanteo
  • The government exercised its pre-emption rights to acquire the land for highway construction.

Examples

  • The government exercised its right of pre-emption on the land.

  • By law, pre-emption allows authorities to claim property before private buyers.

  • Legislation detailing the scope of pre-emption is often debated in parliament.

  • Many states have laws regarding pre-emption in property disputes.

  • By law, pre-emption allows authorities to claim property before private buyers.

  • The government exercised its pre-emption rights to acquire the land for highway construction.

  • Many states have laws regarding pre-emption in property disputes.

Synonyms

dibs
vspre-emption
  • Informal
8 8.5

A spoken claim to have something before others

is a formal, legal right enforced by law rather than informal claim
preemptive right
vspre-emption
  • Formal
9.1

A right that lets current shareholders buy new shares first to keep their share

is a broader legal right to take or buy before others, not only shares

Surface Forms

pre-emption singular
pre-emptions plural
preemptions plural
preemption singular

Morphology

pre-emption = pre-empt (semi-transparent) = pre + empt + ion

This is a regular noun formation from the verb 'pre-empt' referring to the act or right of pre-empting.

Etymology

The word pre-emption comes from pre- 'before' and the Latin root emere 'to buy' or 'to take', so it originally meant 'buying before' someone else, which is why today it means the right to claim or purchase something before others.