protective
Americanadjective
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having the quality or function of protecting: protecting.
a protective covering.
-
tending to protect.
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Economics. of, relating to, or designed to favor protectionism.
protective tariffs.
adjective
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giving or capable of giving protection
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economics of, relating to, or intended for protection of domestic industries
noun
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something that protects
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a condom
Other Word Forms
- nonprotective adjective
- nonprotectively adverb
- protectively adverb
- protectiveness noun
- semiprotective adjective
- semiprotectively adverb
- unprotective adjective
- unprotectively adverb
Etymology
Origin of protective
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.
The glitchy Permian plumbing is forcing producers to drill through zones of high pressure, fortify their wells with additional strings of casing, and use protective coating against corrosive saltwater.
Most turkeys, however, would have their feet coated in a protective layer of hot tar and sand.
From BBC
A second genetic region included several mucin genes that help form the gut's protective mucus layer and was associated with bacteria from the Firmicutes group.
From Science Daily
Friends are fiercely loyal and protective of her privacy.
From BBC
Even doctors often suit up in masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment to treat patients with leprosy.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
