Definition of preventive
(Entry 1 of 2)
: devoted to or concerned with prevention : precautionary preventive steps against soil erosion : such as
a : designed or serving to prevent the occurrence of disease
preventive medical care
b : undertaken to forestall anticipated hostile action
a preventive coup
preventive
nounDefinition of preventive (Entry 2 of 2)
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
- What is an earlier meaning of nice?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Anagram puzzles meet word search.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
Do you know these earlier meanings of words?
Take the quizWords of Snow and Ice Quiz
A selection of words from the chillier parts of t...
Take the quizTrue or False?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something a...
Take the quizSCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!
Play the game
Share preventive
Time Traveler for preventive
The first known use of preventive was circa 1626
See more words from the same year