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
Although my procedure was primarily for diagnostic reasons, regular screenings are essential for many, serving as a key preventive measure. Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Hold off on planting any new trees Taking preventive measures is the best defense against cicadas for young trees. USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 The next preventive care showdown A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments Monday about whether HHS can require insurers to cover preventive services like PrEP and certain health screenings at no cost to patients, my co-author Sarah Owermohle writes. Rachel Cohrs Reprints, STAT, 29 Feb. 2024 Healthcare services are limited to things that are medically necessary or that make your health care costs lower in the long run, like preventive care. Elizabeth Davis, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2024 The individual’s close contacts have been assessed and provided preventive medication. Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Beyond wire theft, the invigorating conversation illuminated the council members’ differing approaches to crime, with some wishing for more preventive efforts and others pushing for accountability. Angie Orellana Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2024 The company has lost more than 50% of its value since last summer, when its preventive medicine for influenza A failed in a large clinical trial. Damian Garde, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024 Without preventive measures in place, such bias can lead to unethical outcomes such as racial and gender discrimination. Bruce Weinstein, Forbes, 21 Feb. 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 But although human vaccines function primarily as preventives, offering immunity to animals such as black-footed ferrets can be a conservation strategy of last resort. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 15 June 2023 Finding and treating the stomach infection Helicobacter pylori can also be considered as a preventive for people who are about to start a course on NSAIDs. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023 In the end, however, experts say there is only one true preventive — or cure — for a hangover: Don’t drink. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 30 Dec. 2022 Once experts predict a potential outbreak, who funds the necessary preventive and containment measures? Mallory Locklear, Discover Magazine, 20 Aug. 2018 And yet little is being done in response to the danger, let alone as a preventive to keep the situation from going further off the rails. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 July 2022 When given as a preventive, it is meant as a two-dose vaccine given four weeks apart, which research suggests can reduce the risk of infection by about 85%. Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 14 July 2022

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 29 Mar. 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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