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. 2018

Examples from the Web for protectiveness

Contemporary Examples

In speaking with women close in age to Clinton, it is easy to get a sense of protectiveness of her.
Hillary Clinton Supporters Are Divided Over Her Potential 2016 Run
David Freedlander
June 11, 2014
He believes Diana was hounded to her death, and friends claim the single biggest driving force in his life is protectiveness.
Citizen Kate
The Daily Beast
April 3, 2011

Historical Examples

The staggering fact increased her virginal charm and its protectiveness.
The Roll-Call
Arnold Bennett
If he had entered with a pistol in his hand he would scarcely have disturbed her trust in his protectiveness.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Thomas Hardy
Anna's youth, her fervor, and her remarkable ability drew out all of Susan's motherly instincts of affection and protectiveness.
Susan B. Anthony
Alma Lutz
But women are afraid to marry the extreme type even when the feeling he prompts is more than mere protectiveness.
How to Analyze People on Sight
Elsie Lincoln Benedict and Ralph Paine Benedict
To the passion of love was added, by their attitudes, the passion of protectiveness, of flinging her body between him and them.
Vera
Elisabeth von Arnim

British Dictionary definitions for protectiveness

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 protectiveness

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.

protective

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}protective

Examples from the Web for protectiveness

Contemporary Examples

In speaking with women close in age to Clinton, it is easy to get a sense of protectiveness of her.

He believes Diana was hounded to her death, and friends claim the single biggest driving force in his life is protectiveness.

Historical Examples

The staggering fact increased her virginal charm and its protectiveness.

If he had entered with a pistol in his hand he would scarcely have disturbed her trust in his protectiveness.

Anna's youth, her fervor, and her remarkable ability drew out all of Susan's motherly instincts of affection and protectiveness.

But women are afraid to marry the extreme type even when the feeling he prompts is more than mere protectiveness.

To the passion of love was added, by their attitudes, the passion of protectiveness, of flinging her body between him and them.

protective

Word Origin and History for protectiveness

protective

adj.

Origin of protective