preventative

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​ven·​ta·​tive pri-ˈven-tə-tiv How to pronounce preventative (audio)
: devoted to or concerned with preventing something from happening : preventive entry 1
The best preventative medicine that you can give to your plants is to mulch them.Ann Whynman
Los Angeles County promised to revamp its system, gradually reducing the use of expensive inpatient hospitals through more preventative care at outpatient clinics.Jonathan Cohn

preventative

2 of 2

noun

plural preventatives
: something that serves to prevent something from occurring : preventive entry 2
We've got the live vaccinia virus vaccine as a preventative for smallpox …D. A. Henderson et al.
Green onions are a mosquito preventative.Garrison Keillor

Examples of preventative in a Sentence

Adjective the department in charge of taking preventative measures against international terrorism
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Pending the criminal investigation, the Tates are under judicial control, a light preventative measure under which they are required to check in with the police regularly. Luiza Ilie, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025 However, to help avoid becoming victimized and having to turn to law enforcement and the justice system, associations should make effective use of these and other preventative measures and precautions. Shari Wald Garrett, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
By incorporating this approach, healthcare can shift from reactive to preventative. Karlo Tanjuakio, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 Tick preventatives and quick removal of ticks is the best way to avoid problems. Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for preventative

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1655, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preventative was in 1651

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Cite this Entry

“Preventative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preventative. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

preventative

adjective or noun
pre·​ven·​ta·​tive pri-ˈvent-ət-iv How to pronounce preventative (audio)

Medical Definition

preventative

adjective or noun
pre·​ven·​ta·​tive pri-ˈvent-ət-iv How to pronounce preventative (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on preventative

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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