protective

[ pruh-tek-tiv ]
See synonyms for protective on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. having the quality or function of protecting: a protective covering.

  2. tending to protect.

  1. Economics. of, relating to, or designed to favor protectionism: protective tariffs.

Origin of protective

1
First recorded in 1655–65; protect + -ive

Other words from protective

  • pro·tec·tive·ly, adverb
  • pro·tec·tive·ness, noun
  • non·pro·tec·tive, adjective
  • non·pro·tec·tive·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·pro·tec·tive, adjective
  • sem·i·pro·tec·tive·ly, adverb
  • un·pro·tec·tive, adjective
  • un·pro·tec·tive·ly, adverb

Words Nearby protective

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How to use protective in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for protective

protective

/ (prəˈtɛktɪv) /


adjective
  1. giving or capable of giving protection

  2. economics of, relating to, or intended for protection of domestic industries

noun
  1. something that protects

  2. a condom

Derived forms of protective

  • protectively, adverb
  • protectiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012