prevention

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noun pre·ven·tion \ pri-ˈven(t)-shən \

Definition of prevention

:the act of preventing or hindering

See prevention defined for English-language learners

See prevention defined for kids

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 of prevention from the Web

Artman said Children’s Mercy will contribute to that effort by promoting cancer prevention through use of the HPV vaccine and supporting ongoing research into childhood brain cancer treatments.

— andy marso, kansascity, "KU Cancer Center upgrade bid denied, but Children’s Mercy Hospital approved as partner," 3 Aug. 2017
Data from Tussell, a company that tracks public-procurement contracts, show that in the month since the Grenfell fire councils have put out 32 tenders worth £5.1m ($6.6m) for fire-risk assessment and prevention schemes.

— The Economist, "After Grenfell, councils scramble to fireproof their buildings," 20 July 2017
The rest is split between the pharmacies and the government, which will use its share to fund prevention programs.

— leonardo haberkorn, The Seattle Times, "Legal pot sales begin in Uruguay under landmark 2013 law," 19 July 2017
The rest is split between the pharmacies and the government, which will use its share to fund prevention programs.

— Bloomberg.com, "Legal Pot Sales Begin in Uruguay Under Landmark 2013 Law," 19 July 2017
Dr. Taylor was finishing a doctorate in epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, and Dr. Arguin was focusing on malaria prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta when a mutual friend introduced them.

— kim severson, New York Times, "A Match Made in Baking and Blue Ribbons," 17 July 2017
Here are some tips: Robbery prevention Keep your cash register in plain view from the outside of your business so that it can be monitored by police and passersby during and after business hours.

— carmen gonzalez caldwell, miamiherald, "Tips for businesses to prevent robberies and stay secure in emergencies," 13 July 2017
The free event from 9 a.m. to noon educates parents and their children about safe practices around water and drowning prevention through interactive demonstrations.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "Things to do with the kids this weekend: Free splash event, Cirque show," 12 July 2017
The website ccso.us has crime statistics and information on crime prevention programs.

— Washington Post, "You obviously love great journalism.," 28 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prevention.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.