English Explanatory Dictionary

preventive

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Preventing, hindering, or acting as an obstacle to.
  2. Carried out to deter military aggression.
  3. Slowing the development of an illness; prophylactic.
  4. Going before; preceding.
noun
  1. A thing that prevents, hinders, or acts as an obstacle to.
  2. A thing that slows the development of an illness.
  3. A contraceptive, especially a condom.

Pronunciation

/pɹɪˈvɛntɪv/ LL-Q7979-Pink Bee-preventive.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-preventive.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-preventive.wav

Word forms

preventive more preventive most preventive preventative preventives

Etymology

Borrowed from New Latin praeventīvus. Equivalent to prevent + -ive.

Synonyms

prophylactic

Derived words

angiopreventive chemopreventive immunopreventive nonpreventive pathopreventive preventive healthcare preventively preventive medicine preventiveness preventive service preventive war preventivist renopreventive unpreventive
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