preventive

Also pre·vent·a·tive

[pri-ven-tiv]

adjective

1. Medicine/Medical.,  of or noting a drug, vaccine, etc., for preventing disease; prophylactic.

2. serving to prevent or hinder.

   preventive measures.

noun

1. Medicine/Medical.,  a drug or other substance for preventing disease.

2. a preventive agent or measure.

preventive

/ prɪˈvɛntɪv /

adjective

1. tending or intended to prevent or hinder

2. med

   1. tending to prevent disease; prophylactic

   2. of or relating to the branch of medicine concerned with prolonging life and preventing disease

3. (in Britain) of, relating to, or belonging to the customs and excise service or the coastguard

noun

1. something that serves to prevent or hinder

2. med any drug or agent that tends to prevent or protect against disease

3. another name for contraceptive

Other Word Forms

• preventiveness noun
• preventively adverb
• nonpreventive adjective
• nonpreventively adverb
• nonpreventiveness noun
• unpreventative adjective
• unpreventive adjective
• unpreventively adverb
• unpreventiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of preventive¹

First recorded in 1630–40; prevent + -ive

Example Sentences

The state leaders, all Democrats, will join forces to help one another prepare for pandemics, track infectious diseases, write public-health guidelines, share expertise on preventive care and buy vaccines and supplies in bulk.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They praised the intervention's clinical relevance and its potential as a preventive model for type 2 diabetes.

Read more on Science Daily

Our system doesn’t incentivize doctors to deliver the preventive care that matters most.

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Preventive Services Task Force, that determines which cancer screenings and other preventive services most insurers must cover.

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One reason: As vet bills rise, there’s been a greater focus on preventive care in recent years — although such preventive wellness is expensive, too.

Read more on Los Angeles Times