Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

preparative

American  
[pri-par-uh-tiv, -pair-] / prɪˈpær ə tɪv, -ˈpɛər- /

adjective

  1. preparatory.


noun

  1. something that prepares.

  2. a preparation.

preparative British  
/ prɪˈpærətɪv /

adjective

  1. serving to prepare; preparatory

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. something that prepares

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of preparative

1400–50; late Middle English preparatif < Middle French < Medieval Latin praeparātīvus. See preparation, -ive


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.

See Examples For:

The catch-22 is that while stem cell transplants can prevent this failure, the usual preparative chemotherapy or radiation can cause severe complications or even cancer.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 7, 2025

These preparative mass spectrometers can be used to produce chemical compounds in a new way.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2023

However, preparative mass spectrometry could soon open up completely new possibilities for these applications, for example, in the production of microchips, solar cells or biologically active coatings.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2023

Another preparative method is the electrochemical oxidation of a hot solution of a metal halide to form the appropriate metal chlorates.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

I believed that an attempt to range and methodize some of our most leading passions would be a good preparative to such an inquiry as we are going to make in the ensuing discourse.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 01 (of 12) by Edmund Burke

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training