prevention

noun

pre·​ven·​tion pri-ˈven(t)-shən 

: the act of preventing or hindering

Synonyms

• avoidance
• prohibition

Examples of prevention in a Sentence

Exercise and diet play a role in the prevention of heart disease.

good crowd control is crucial to the prevention of riots

Recent Examples on the Web

Communities across Michigan — not just Detroit — were among several cities across the country that adopted the approach in response and used federal pandemic relief funds to invest in violence prevention. —Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 25 July 2025

Always Active These Cookies and SDKs are required for Service functionality, including security and fraud prevention, and to enable any purchasing capabilities. —Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 24 July 2025

That means a renewed and urgent focus on prevention from our policymakers—and remember, prevention needs to target both young and old. —Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025

Fiber supports gut health, blood sugar, and long-term disease prevention—but too much can cause discomfort. —Lauren Manaker Ms, Health, 24 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing prevention

• an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
• prevention is better than cure

Rhymes for prevention

• attention
• contention
• convention
• declension
• detention
• dimension
• dissension
• distension
• extension
• intension
• invention
• laurentian

Kids Definition

prevention

noun

pre·​ven·​tion pri-ˈven-chən 

: the act or practice of preventing something

the prevention of fires