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 adoption of the prevention plan was a welcome move, Renfroe said, but more is needed. —Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026

During an altercation, one of the loss prevention officers was cut on his forearm by an unknown object, police said. —Richard Ramos, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026

Influential charitable organizations — including the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Casey Family Programs and the Child Welfare League of America — have issued calls to expand safety net programs as a maltreatment prevention strategy. —Sarah A. Font, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026

In December, Walz unveiled a statewide fraud prevention program and appointed a former FBI agent to head the initiative. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 Jan. 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