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preventive

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
pre·ven·tive  (pr-vntv) also pre·ven·ta·tive (-t-tv)
adj.
1. Intended or used to prevent or hinder; acting as an obstacle: preventive measures.
2. Carried out to deter expected aggression by hostile forces.
3. Preventing or slowing the course of an illness or disease; prophylactic: preventive medicine; preventive health care.
n.
1. Something that prevents; an obstacle.
2. Something that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease.

pre·ventive·ly adv.
pre·ventive·ness n.

preventive
Adjective
1. intended to prevent or hinder
2. Med tending to prevent disease
Noun
1. something that serves to prevent
2. Med any drug or agent that tends to prevent disease Also: (preventative)
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.preventivepreventive - remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease; "the doctor recommended several preventatives"
curative, cure, therapeutic, remedy - a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain
2.preventive - any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome
clog - any object that acts as a hindrance or obstruction
impedimenta, obstruction, obstructor, obstructer, impediment - any structure that makes progress difficult
speed bump - a hindrance to speeding created by a crosswise ridge in the surface of a roadway
3.preventivepreventive - an agent or device intended to prevent conception
cervical cap - a contraceptive device consisting of a small thimble-shaped cup that is placed over the uterine cervix to prevent the entrance of spermatozoa
coil - a contraceptive device placed inside a woman's womb
condom, prophylactic, safe, rubber, safety - contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse
device - an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water"
contraceptive diaphragm, pessary, diaphragm - a contraceptive device consisting of a flexible dome-shaped cup made of rubber or plastic; it is filled with spermicide and fitted over the uterine cervix
intrauterine device, IUD - contraceptive device consisting of a piece of bent plastic or metal that is inserted through the vagina into the uterus
morning-after pill - a large dose of estrogen taken orally within 24 to 72 hours after intercourse; prevents implantation of a fertilized ovum and so acts as a contraceptive; commonly used after rape or incest
anovulant, anovulatory drug, birth control pill, contraceptive pill, oral contraceptive, oral contraceptive pill, pill - a contraceptive in the form of a pill containing estrogen and progestin to inhibit ovulation and so prevent conception
spermatocide, spermicide - a contraceptive agent that kills spermatozoa
Adj.1.preventive - preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease; "preventive medicine"; "vaccines are prophylactic"; "a prophylactic drug"
healthful - conducive to good health of body or mind; "a healthful climate"; "a healthful environment"; "healthful nutrition"; "healthful sleep"; "Dickens's relatively healthful exuberance"
2.preventive - tending to prevent or hinder
protective - intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind; "a protective covering"; "the use of protective masks and equipment"; "protective coatings"; "kept the drunken sailor in protective custody"; "animals with protective coloring"; "protective tariffs"
permissive - not preventive

preventive or preventative
adjective 2. prophylactic, protective, precautionary, counteractive
USAGE In all contexts, preventive is commoner than, and generally used in preference to, preventative.
Translations
Spanish preventive [prɪˈvɛntɪv] adjpreventivo
French preventive [prɪˈvɛntɪv] prevent adjpréventif/ive
German preventive [prɪˈvɛntɪv] prevent adj [measures, medicine] → vorbeugend
Italian preventive [prɪˈvɛntɪv] adjpreventivo/a

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The preventive service afloat was really the one for us to reckon with, and it was material for our success and safety to know the exact position of the patrol craft in the neighbourhood.
They carry their preventive with them; they sweat and fumigate all the day long.
This repulsive pillow was her especial property, being used as a weapon of defense, a barricade, or a stern preventive of too much slumber.
 
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