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.
Next came a mystical bath ritual: a little bit of water poured over the body, part of a protective tradition that some Senegalese wrestlers undergo.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
First, we don’t know yet how long the vaccine offers immunity against shingles, nor is it clear whether the protective qualities it seems to offer older folks apply when it’s given to younger populations.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026
When a phage infects the bacterium, it disrupts this protective arrangement, allowing the toxin to act.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
The court document states that Martinez “did not sustain the applicable burden of proof” in favor of his protective order request.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
How much of this was his mother being protective of his identity and how much was her attempt to distance herself from him because his life would end her own?
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
