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Webster 1913 Edition

Preventive

Pre-vent′ive

,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
préventif
.]
1.
Going before; preceding.
[Obs.]
Any previous counsel or
preventive
understanding.
Cudworth.
2.
Tending to defeat or hinder; obviating; preventing the access of;
as, a medicine
preventive
of disease
.
Physic is either curative or
preventive
.
Sir T. Browne.
Preventive service
,
the duty performed by the armed police in guarding the coast against smuggling.
[Eng]

Pre-vent′ive

,
Noun.
That which prevents, hinders, or obstructs; that which intercepts access; in medicine, something to prevent disease; a prophylactic.

Webster 1828 Edition

Preventive

PREVENT'IVE

,
Adj.
Tending to hinder; hindering the access of; as a medicine preventive of disease.

PREVENT'IVE

,
Noun.
That which prevents; that which intercepts the access or approach of. Temperance and exercise are excellent preventives of debility and languor.
1.
An antidote previously taken. A medicine may be taken as a preventive of disease.

Definition 2024

preventive

preventive

See also: préventive

English

Adjective

preventive ‎(comparative more preventive, superlative most preventive)

  1. Preventing, hindering, or acting as an obstacle to.
  2. Carried out to deter military aggression.
  3. Slowing the development of an illness; prophylactic.
    • Sir Thomas Browne
      Physic is either curative or preventive.
  4. (obsolete) Going before; preceding.
    • Cudworth
      Any previous counsel or preventive understanding.

Translations

Noun

preventive ‎(plural preventives)

  1. (dated) A thing that prevents, hinders, or acts as an obstacle to.
    • 1856, Henry William Herbert, The Complete Manual for Young Sportsmen
      Dogs should be warmly but airily housed; heartily, but not heatingly, fed — old Indian meal, mixed with oatmeal, suppawn, is the best general food, with a small quantity of salt, which is a preventive against worms […]
  2. (nonstandard) A thing that slows the development of an illness.
  3. A contraceptive, especially a condom.

Alternative forms

Usage notes

  • Many speakers prefer to use preventive in adjective senses and preventative in noun senses.

Italian

Adjective

preventive

  1. feminine plural of preventivo

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