preventative

preventive (prɪˈvɛntɪv, prɪˈvɛntətɪv)

—*adj*
1.	tending or intended to prevent or hinder
2.	med
	a. tending to prevent disease; prophylactic
	b. 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

—n
4.	something that serves to prevent or hinder
5.	med any drug or agent that tends to prevent or protect against disease
6.	another name for contraceptive

pre'ventively

—*adv*

pre'ventiveness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

preventive pre·ven·tive (prĭ-věn'tĭv) or pre·ven·ta·tive (-tə-tĭv)
adj.
Preventing or slowing the course of an illness or a disease; prophylactic. n.
A preventive agent or treatment.

Example sentences

We have been to the moon and split the atom, but a true cure or foolproof

preventative measure for the hangover remains elusive.

It speaks far more clearly of a powerful industry lobby than of health needs

which could be addressed by preventative measures.

It has nothing to do with actually facing the cost and preventative care issues.

Yet few governments are willing to spend even fractions of that on preventative

maintenance.

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Matching Quote

"We legislate against forestalling and monopoly; we would have a common granary for the poor; but the selfishness which hoards the corn for high prices, is the preventative of famine; and the law of self-preservation is surer policy than any legislation can be."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson