prevention

noun

pre·​ven·​tion pri-ˈven(t)-shən 

: the act of preventing or hindering

Synonyms of prevention

• 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

The fire chiefs suggested limiting the size of ag-exempt buildings, conducting inspections of new and existing buildings and requiring fire prevention infrastructure. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026

When basic healthcare is unavailable, insecurity interrupts humanitarian assistance, or essential prevention infrastructure. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 30 July 2026

The Military Health System and its extensive research enterprise have produced innovations that transformed civilian medicine, from trauma care to infectious disease prevention. — David Shulkin, STAT, 29 July 2026

Those quiet victories rarely make headlines precisely because prevention works. — Brian Castrucci, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

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