(PREE.but.ul)
n.
A rebuttal, inserted into an argument, that refutes an anticipated counter-argument; a rebuttal given in advance of another's argument.
Example Citation:
When congressional Democrats asked Gov. Gary Locke of Washington to deliver the party's response to President Bush's State of the Union address, they ceded what could have been their highest-profile media moment of the year to someone who does not sit in the House or Senate. It was a mistake. ...
Neither Locke's rebuttal nor a "prebuttal" by Senate Minority Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., sounded like the sort of rip-roaring alternative that might energize opponents of the administration policies in Washington or beyond.
— John Nichols, "Dems miss chance to stand up to W," Capital-Times (Madison, WI), January 30, 2003
Earliest Citation:
President Clinton's White House and campaign team have been drawing favorable reviews for their rapid response operation and penchant for picking off issues before Senate Majority Leader Robert J. Dole (R-Kan.) even gets his TelePrompTer warmed up. Vice President Gore calls it "prebuttal."
— Dan Balz, "Team GOP' Tunes Up Message Machinery," The Washington Post, May 26, 1996
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New words. 2013.