preventive war
noun1
War started by one of the parties without having received any attack from the other party. This type of war is initiated by states unable to use diplomacy
- The German war against Poland initiated by Hitler was justified as a preventive war by Carl Schmitt, German jurist and philosopher
- We do not believe in aggressive or preventive war. Such war is the weapon of dictators, not of free democratic countries like the United States.1950 September 1, Harry S. Truman, 4:15 from the start, in MP72-73 Korea and World Peace: President Truman Reports to the People, Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives Identifier: 595162: