1. The right to buy before others. See RIGHT OF PREEMPTION. [Cases: Contracts 16; Sales 24; Vendor and Purchaser 18(.5). C.J.S. Contracts §§ 37–41, 44, 46, 55–56, 58; Sales §§ 41–42; Vendor and Purchaser§§ 98–100, 103–106, 115–116.]
2. The purchase of something under this right.
3. An earlier seizure or appropriation.
4. The occupation of public land so as to establish a preemptive title. [Cases: Public Lands 34. C.J.S. Public Lands § 50.]
5. Constitutional law. The principle (derived from the Supremacy Clause) that a federal law can supersede or supplant any inconsistent state law or regulation. — Also termed (in sense 5) federal preemption. See COMPLETE-PREEMPTION DOCTRINE. [Cases: States 18.
3. C.J.S. States § 22.] — preempt, vb. — preemptive, adj.
