pre·ven·ta·tive
pri-ˈven-tə-tiv 
: devoted to or concerned with preventing something from happening : preventive entry 1
The best preventative medicine that you can give to your plants is to mulch them.—
Ann Whynman
Ann WhynmanLos Angeles County promised to revamp its system, gradually reducing the use of expensive inpatient hospitals through more preventative care at outpatient clinics.—Jonathan Cohn
Jonathan Cohn
plural preventatives
: something that serves to prevent something from occurring : preventive entry 2
We've got the live vaccinia virus vaccine as a preventative for smallpox …—D. A. Henderson et al.
D. A. Henderson et al.Green onions are a mosquito preventative.—Garrison Keillor
Garrison KeillorExamples of preventative in a Sentence
Adjective
the department in charge of taking preventative measures against international terrorism
Recent Examples on the Web
Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
This leaves the home vulnerable once again, which can create a cycle of infestation and eradication that can become more costly and invasive than a simple preventative plan.
—Kody Boye, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Clayful partners with schools to provide preventative, pre-clinical mental health coaching to students.
—Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preventative
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Adjective
On homelessness, Munson wants to double down on preventative measures such as rental assistance as well as permanent supportive housing.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
This leaves the home vulnerable once again, which can create a cycle of infestation and eradication that can become more costly and invasive than a simple preventative plan.
—Kody Boye, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
Noun
Vaccinations and other preventatives against ever-evolving germs do not on their own guarantee personal safety—only eradication can do that.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Clayful partners with schools to provide preventative, pre-clinical mental health coaching to students.
—Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preventative
Cite this Entry
“Preventative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preventative. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preventative
adjective or noun
pre·ven·ta·tive
pri-ˈvent-ət-iv
Medical Definition
preventative
adjective or noun
pre·ven·ta·tive
pri-ˈvent-ət-iv
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