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preventive

[ pri-ven-tiv ]
/ prɪˈvɛn tɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR preventive

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.

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Also pre·vent·a·tive [pri-ven-tuh-tiv] /prɪˈvɛn tə tɪv/ (for defs. 2, 4).

Origin of preventive

First recorded in 1630–40; prevent + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM preventive

Words nearby preventive

prevenient grace, prevent, prevent defense, preventer, prevention, preventive, preventive dentistry, preventive detention, preventive law, preventive medicine, preventive treatment
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to preventive

precautionary, defending, defensive, protective

Example sentences from the Web for preventive

British Dictionary definitions for preventive

preventive
/ (prɪˈvɛntɪv) /

adjective

tending or intended to prevent or hinder
med
  1. tending to prevent disease; prophylactic
  2. 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, noun
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

Medical 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.