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Webster 1913 Edition


Preventative

Pre-vent′a-tive

,
Noun.
That which prevents; – incorrectly used instead of preventive.

Definition 2024


preventative

preventative

English

Adjective

preventative (comparative more preventative, superlative most preventative)

  1. Alternative form of preventive
    • 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 []"
    • 1968, G. Anthony Wedge, N. A. P.: New American Party, Geddes Press Printers (1968), p. 155,
      "Preventative defense comes in two flavors []"
    • 2006, Robert Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson, Repairing & Upgrading Your PC, O'Reilly (2006), p. 70,
      "The goals of preventative maintenance are to reduce the likelihood of hardware failures, []"

Noun

preventative (plural preventatives)

  1. Alternative form of preventive

Usage notes

  • Preventative is in all senses synonymous with preventive. Many speakers prefer to use preventative in noun senses and preventive in adjective senses.