protective

[pruh-tek-tiv]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR protective ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having the quality or function of protecting: a protective covering.

tending to protect.

Economics. of, relating to, or designed to favor protectionism: protective tariffs.

defensive(def 4).

Origin of protective

First recorded in 1655–65; protect + -ive

Related formspro·tec·tive·ly, adverbpro·tec·tive·ness, nounnon·pro·tec·tive, adjectivenon·pro·tec·tive·ly, adverbsem·i·pro·tec·tive, adjectivesem·i·pro·tec·tive·ly, adverbun·pro·tec·tive, adjectiveun·pro·tec·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for protective

watchful, possessive, vigilant, warm, defensive, jealous, careful, conservative, covering, emergency, guardian, preservative, conservational, custodial, protecting, shielding

Examples from the Web for protective

Contemporary Examples of protective

By drawing boundaries against wrongful conduct, law provides a protective zone of freedom within those boundaries.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans
Philip K. Howard
December 27, 2014
For instance, how do you balance honesty with any protective urge?
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination
Mindy Farabee
December 26, 2014
Former Texas governor Ann Richards was a big fan of the Texas Rangers, a contingent of which was her protective detail.
My Love Letter to the Stetson
Mark McKinnon
December 24, 2014
Overnight people shed their fears, their protective camouflage and their restraints.
How Havel Inspired the Velvet Revolution
Michael Zantovsky
December 6, 2014
Spencer had returned from Guinea on Oct. 17, saying he was confident his protective gear had kept him from becoming infected.
From Ebola Country to NYC’s Subways
Michael Daly
October 25, 2014

Historical Examples of protective

Why, the order of nature is reversed, and these children take on the protective.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
There was protective tenderness in the gesture and the touch.
Quaint Courtships
Various
But to the cub the spectacle of her protective rage was pleasing.
White Fang
Jack London
He had been moved, he supposed now, by a protective sentiment.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens
Among birds, the ptarmigan is a fine example of protective colouring.
Little Masterpieces of Science:
Various

British Dictionary definitions for protective

protective

adjective

giving or capable of giving protection

economics of, relating to, or intended for protection of domestic industries

noun

something that protects

a condom

Derived Formsprotectively, adverbprotectiveness, 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

Word Origin and History for protective

adj.

1660s, from protect + -ive. As a noun from 1875. Related: Protectively; protectiveness. Protective custody is from 1933, translating German Schutzhaft, used cynically by the Nazis.