Preventative

//pɹɪˈvɛntətɪv// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Uncommon ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Alternative form of preventive. alt-of, alternative

    "The seeds and roots of the water lily are likewise considered a preventative against lechery."

  2. 2
    an agent or device intended to prevent conception wordnet
  3. 3
    any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome wordnet
  4. 4
    remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease wordnet
Adjective
  1. 1
    Alternative form of preventive. alt-of, alternative

    "1920, Lillien Jane Martin, Mental hygiene: two years' experience of a clinical psychologist, Warwick &York (1920), p. 78, "That part of mental hygiene which has a prophylactic character falls into two classes, group preventative mental hygiene […]""

Adjective
  1. 1
    preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease wordnet
  2. 2
    tending to prevent or hinder wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
prophylacticantacidantidotebirth control devicebuffercontraceptive

Example

More examples

"Preventative medicine is very important."

Related phrases

preventative maintenancepreventative medicine

More for "preventative"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.