pre·ven·ta·tive
pri-ˈven-tə-tiv 
: 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
Ann WhynmanLos Angeles County promised to revamp its system, gradually reducing the use of expensive inpatient hospitals through more preventative care at outpatient clinics.—Jonathan Cohn
Jonathan Cohn
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.
D. A. Henderson et al.Green onions are a mosquito preventative.—Garrison Keillor
Garrison KeillorExamples of preventative in a Sentence
Adjective
the department in charge of taking preventative measures against international terrorism
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Preventative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preventative. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preventative
adjective or noun
pre·ven·ta·tive
pri-ˈvent-ət-iv
Medical Definition
preventative
adjective or noun
pre·ven·ta·tive
pri-ˈvent-ət-iv
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share