preventive

[ pri-ven-tiv ]
/ prɪˈvɛn tɪv /

adjective

Medicine/Medical. of or noting a drug, vaccine, etc., for preventing disease; prophylactic.
serving to prevent or hinder: preventive measures.

noun

Medicine/Medical. a drug or other substance for preventing disease.
a preventive agent or measure.
Also pre·vent·a·tive [pri-ven-tuh-tiv] /prɪˈvɛn tə tɪv/ (for defs 2, 4).

Origin of preventive

First recorded in 1630–40; prevent + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM preventive

Example sentences from the Web for preventive

British Dictionary definitions for preventive

preventive
/ (prɪˈvɛntɪv) /

adjective

tending or intended to prevent or hinder
med
  1. tending to prevent disease; prophylactic
  2. of or relating to the branch of medicine concerned with prolonging life and preventing disease
(in Britain) of, relating to, or belonging to the customs and excise service or the coastguard

noun

something that serves to prevent or hinder
med any drug or agent that tends to prevent or protect against disease
another name for contraceptive
Also (except for sense 3): preventative ( prɪˈvɛntətɪv)

Derived forms of preventive

preventively, adverb preventiveness, noun

Medical definitions for preventive

preventive
[ prĭ-vĕntĭv ]

adj.

Preventing or slowing the course of an illness or disease; prophylactic.

n.

A preventive agent or treatment.