protective
Americanadjective
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having the quality or function of protecting.
a protective covering.
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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
Etymology
Origin of protective
Explanation
Anything that's protective safeguards or watches out for something (or someone) else. Protective gear keeps you safe from physical injury, and a protective parent cares for and worries about their children. When you work with dangerous chemicals or toxic substances, it makes sense to wear protective masks or gloves, and a new bicycle rider is smart to wear a protective helmet. The first time you bring your new puppy to the dog park, you're likely to be protective of him, keeping him safe from bigger, older dogs. The Latin root of protective is protegere, "to cover in front, or to protect."
Vocabulary lists containing protective
“About Edward Jenner” from the Jenner Institute
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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.
This protective barrier helps shield the brain from potentially harmful substances circulating in the bloodstream.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
Under normal conditions, sEH breaks down epoxy-oxylipins, so blocking the enzyme allows more of these protective molecules to remain in the body.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026
"That's where we then come in, to give them the protective coating to effectively enable these new materials."
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Days of intense waves fueled by Hurricane Marie far away in the Pacific left several sections of the boardwalk completely destroyed after massive swells swallowed protective sand berms and slammed through the seawall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
The workers’ protective suits restricted their movement, and it was almost two hours before they reached the emergency response center.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
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.
