preventive
[ pri-ven-tiv ]
/ prɪˈvɛn tɪv /
adjective
Medicine/Medical. of or noting a drug, vaccine, etc., for preventing disease; prophylactic.
serving to prevent or hinder: preventive measures.
noun
Medicine/Medical. a drug or other substance for preventing disease.
a preventive agent or measure.
Words nearby preventive
Also pre·vent·a·tive [pri-ven-tuh-tiv] /prɪˈvɛn tə tɪv/ (for defs 2, 4).
OTHER WORDS FROM preventive
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for preventive
British Dictionary definitions for preventive
preventive
/ (prɪˈvɛntɪv) /
adjective
tending or intended to prevent or hinder
med
- tending to prevent disease; prophylactic
- of or relating to the branch of medicine concerned with prolonging life and preventing disease
(in Britain) of, relating to, or belonging to the customs and excise service or the coastguard
noun
something that serves to prevent or hinder
med any drug or agent that tends to prevent or protect against disease
another name for contraceptive
Also (except for sense 3): preventative (prɪˈvɛntətɪv)
Derived forms of preventive
preventively, adverbpreventiveness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medicine definitions for preventive
preventive
[ prĭ-vĕn′tĭv ]
adj.
Preventing or slowing the course of an illness or disease; prophylactic.
n.
A preventive agent or treatment.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.