preventive

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​ven·​tive pri-ˈven-tiv How to pronounce preventive (audio)
: 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
preventively adverb
preventiveness noun

preventive

2 of 2

noun

: something that prevents
especially : something used to prevent disease

Examples of preventive in a Sentence

Adjective Farmers are covering their crops as a preventive measure against frost. We'll take whatever preventive action is necessary. Noun if people took the simple preventive of frequently washing their hands, the spread of germs could be greatly reduced
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
This Alliance tries to uncover why that is and then develop preventive measures to make sure that that doesn’t happen. Carolyn Manno, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024 Porter endured a lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and five years of the Tamoxifen medication, which is used as a preventive measure. Phoebe Wall Howard, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024
Noun
Indeed, failure to do so proved disastrous for some early human trials of preventives. David J. Waters, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015 Padlocks, sickles and other objects made of iron, a metal said to possess anti-demonic powers, were stashed in the grave as preventives. Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for preventive 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preventive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1626, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1639, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preventive was circa 1626

Dictionary Entries Near preventive

Cite this Entry

“Preventive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preventive. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

preventive

1 of 2 noun
pre·​ven·​tive pri-ˈvent-iv How to pronounce preventive (audio)
: something that prevents
especially : something used to prevent disease

preventive

2 of 2 adjective
: concerned with or used for prevention
preventive measures
preventive medicine

Medical Definition

preventive

1 of 2 noun
pre·​ven·​tive -ˈvent-iv How to pronounce preventive (audio)
: something (as a drug) used to prevent disease

preventive

2 of 2 adjective
: devoted to or concerned with the prevention of disease
preventive drug therapy
preventive psychiatry

More from Merriam-Webster on preventive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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