different between preemptive vs proactive

English

Alternative forms

• preëmptive
• pre-emptive

Etymology

preempt +? -ive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p?i???mp.t?v/

Adjective

preemptive (comparative more preemptive, superlative most preemptive)

1. Of or relating to preemption.
2. Made so as to deter an anticipated unpleasant situation.
3. (bridge, of a high-level bid) Intended to interfere with an opponent's bidding.

Derived terms

• preemptive therapy
• preemptive strike
• preemptively

Translations

English

Etymology

pro- +? active; originally coined 1933 by Paul Whiteley and Gerald Blankfort in a psychology paper, used in technical sense. Used in a popular context and sense (courage, perseverance) in 1946 book Man’s Search for Meaning by neuropsychiatrist Viktor Emil Frankl, in the context of dealing with the Holocaust, as contrast with reactive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p????ækt?v/
• Rhymes: -ækt?v

Adjective

proactive (comparative more proactive, superlative most proactive)

1. Acting in advance to deal with an expected change or difficulty

Usage notes

Some consider proactive to be a buzzword, and it is associated with business-speak.

Depending on use, alternatives include active, preemptive, or “show initiative” instead of “be proactive”.

Synonyms

• anticipatory
• forward-looking

Antonyms

• reactive

Derived terms

• proactively
• proactivity
• proaction
• proactiveness

Related terms

• preactive
• proact
• proactor

Translations

References

• The Word Detective, Issue of February 5, 2001

French

Adjective

proactive

1. feminine singular of proactif