preventive

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​ven·​tive pri-ˈven-tiv 

: devoted to or concerned with prevention : precautionary

preventive steps against soil erosion

: such as

a

: designed or serving to prevent the occurrence of disease

preventive medical care

b

: undertaken to forestall anticipated hostile action

a preventive coup

preventively adverb

preventiveness noun

preventive

2 of 2

noun

: something that prevents

especially : something used to prevent disease

Synonyms

Adjective

• precautionary
• preventative
• prophylactic

Noun

• caution
• fail-safe
• palladium
• precaution
• safeguard

Examples of preventive in a Sentence

Adjective

Farmers are covering their crops as a preventive measure against frost.

We'll take whatever preventive action is necessary.

Noun

if people took the simple preventive of frequently washing their hands, the spread of germs could be greatly reduced

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act gave states funding for school mental health programs and local violence interventions, among other preventive measures. —Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Routine check-ups can help those people identify the preventive measures that can keep them healthy. —Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 17 Dec. 2024

Noun

Indeed, failure to do so proved disastrous for some early human trials of preventives. —David J. Waters, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015

Padlocks, sickles and other objects made of iron, a metal said to possess anti-demonic powers, were stashed in the grave as preventives. —Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1626, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1639, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

preventive

1 of 2 noun

pre·​ven·​tive pri-ˈvent-iv 

: something that prevents

especially : something used to prevent disease

preventive

2 of 2 adjective

: concerned with or used for prevention

preventive measures

preventive medicine

Medical Definition

preventive

1 of 2 noun

pre·​ven·​tive -ˈvent-iv 

: something (as a drug) used to prevent disease

preventive

2 of 2 adjective

: devoted to or concerned with the prevention of disease

preventive drug therapy

preventive psychiatry