protective
Americanadjective
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having the quality or function of protecting: protecting.
a protective covering.
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tending to protect.
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Economics. of, relating to, or designed to favor protectionism.
protective tariffs.
adjective
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giving or capable of giving protection
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economics of, relating to, or intended for protection of domestic industries
noun
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something that protects
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a condom
Other Word Forms
- nonprotective adjective
- nonprotectively adverb
- protectively adverb
- protectiveness noun
- semiprotective adjective
- semiprotectively adverb
- unprotective adjective
- unprotectively adverb
Etymology
Origin of protective
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some studies suggested there could be a protective effect after more than 10-15 years of follow-up, but confidence in that evidence is very low.
From Science Daily
First, AI subverts the tech giants’ economies of scale by lowering the relatively high fixed costs of writing software, which had served as a protective moat for these companies.
From Barron's
First, AI subverts the tech giants’ economies of scale by lowering the relatively high fixed costs of writing software, which had served as a protective moat for these companies.
From Barron's
Together, the beta cells and Tregs form a protective partnership that helps preserve insulin production after transplantation.
From Science Daily
Shadow on the other hand is “very protective. He’s also very giving and generous. He doesn’t give up easily and he’s a very attentive father.”
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
