Non-preemptive? Non-pre-emptive? Emptive?

Solution 1:

There are two possibile ways to describe something that is not pre-emptive.

1) Non-preemptive.

This is used in computing. In this context, the choice of hypenation appears arbitrary. A simple google seach for nonpreemptive operating system shows that one hyphen is the most common choice. "Non-preemptive operating systems are not a good choice in a situation where reaction time is important".

2) Reactive or reactionary.

This is used in a military context. "They decided not to make a pre-emptive strike. As a result, their strikes, when they finally responded to provocation, were reactionary, and all too late..."