preventive

[ pri-ven-tiv ]

adjective

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

   preventive measures.

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. a drug or other substance for preventing disease.
2. a preventive agent or measure.

preventive

/ prɪˈvɛntɪv /

adjective

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

noun

1. something that serves to prevent or hinder
2. med any drug or agent that tends to prevent or protect against disease
3. another name for contraceptive

Derived Forms

• preˈventiveness, noun
• preˈventively, adverb

Other Words From

• pre·ventive·ly adverb
• pre·ventive·ness noun
• nonpre·ventive adjective
• nonpre·ventive·ly adverb
• nonpre·ventive·ness noun
• unpre·venta·tive adjective
• unpre·ventive adjective
• unpre·ventive·ly adverb
• unpre·ventive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of preventive¹

First recorded in 1630–40; prevent + -ive

Example Sentences

They range from cutting an FDA program popular with companies that uses fees they pay to help fund drug reviews to putting half of NIH’s research budget into “preventive, alternative and holistic approaches to health.”

From Science Magazine

Previously, Kennedy said he would redirect half of the national medical research budget to go toward “preventive, alternative and holistic approaches to health” and threatened to prosecute Dr. Anthony Fauci “if crimes were committed.”

From Salon

This approach has revolutionized many human health intervention programs by identifying at-risk children and adults, which allows for more targeted interventions and preventive efforts.

From Salon

Conflict-related damage to infrastructure like hospitals and roads can drive up rates of infectious disease and malnutrition and diminish access to preventive care.

From Salon

“It’s such a privilege to undergo genetic testing and have the knowledge and make preventive decisions, but being a previvor has its own set of challenges and intricacies.”

From Salon