pre-emption
noun /ˌpriː ˈempʃn/
/ˌpriː ˈempʃn/
[uncountable] (business)- the opportunity given to one person or group to buy goods, shares, etc.
- Existing shareholders will have pre-emption rights.
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from medieval Latin praeemptio(n-), from the verb praeemere, from prae ‘in advance’ + emere ‘buy’.