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 Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee is asking for public recommendations and ideas on fraud prevention in the child care and Medicaid system. —Jess Huff, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026

The health department also provides education and prevention methods to those who are worried about lead. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026

Waste wood from wildfire prevention, industrial byproducts, and even sewage can be transformed into high-value material for batteries and steel production. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026

Root causes and structural prevention — the hard work of building trust and reducing conflict across communities — are rarely part of the conversation. —Audrey Sasson, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 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