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.