Interceptive
adj, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A drug or device that prevents pregnancy by interfering with the implantation of an embryo in the uterus.
"Interceptives are neither contraceptives nor abortifacients since they are unable to inhibit fertilization or to interfere with an established implantation in primates ( Morris & Van Wagenen, 1973)."
- 1 Pertaining to the coordination, joining, and interaction or interference of a moving object with another (moving or stationary) object. not-comparable
"If there is an abnormal interceptive contact the transducer is jolted more than once in a single closure of the jaws and a double sound is produced (Fig. 29.4)."
- 2 Pertaining to the interruption of a trajectory or course of development to stop it or divert it to a new trajectory or course of development, as opposed to correction after the fact. not-comparable
"interceptive orthodontics"
- 3 Pertaining to the prevention of pregnancy by interfering with the implantation of the embryo in the uterus. not-comparable
"Our calculations on the relationship between uterotrophic and interceptive activities support the concept that interruption of early pregnancy is one of the properties of an "estrogenic" compound (Carlborg, 1970)."
- 4 Pertaining to the approach and destruction of an attacking enemy force. not-comparable
"As soon as the Germans took the initial action, the French could have launched an interceptive strike."
Example
More examples"If there is an abnormal interceptive contact the transducer is jolted more than once in a single closure of the jaws and a double sound is produced (Fig. 29.4)."
Etymology
From intercept + -ive.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.