: used to stop something bad from happening
Farmers are covering their crops as a preventive measure against frost.
preventive medicine [=medicine that stops you from getting sick; medicine that keeps you healthy]
We'll take whatever preventive action is necessary.
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“Preventive.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/preventive. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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