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Definition of preventative - 6 dictionary results

pre⋅ven⋅tive

  [pri-ven-tiv]
Use preventative in a Sentence
–adjective
1. Medicine/Medical. of or noting a drug, vaccine, etc., for preventing disease; prophylactic.
2. serving to prevent or hinder: preventive measures.
–noun
3. Medicine/Medical. a drug or other substance for preventing disease.
4. a preventive agent or measure.
Also, pre⋅vent⋅a⋅tive  [pri-ven-tuh-tiv] (for defs. 2, 4).

Origin:
1630–40; prevent + -ive

Related forms:
pre⋅ven⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
pre⋅ven⋅tive⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To preventative
pre·ven·ta·tive   (prĭ-věn'tə-tĭv)   
adj.   & n.
Variant of preventive.
pre·ven·tive   (prĭ-věn'tĭv)   
adj.  

  1. Intended or used to prevent or hinder; acting as an obstacle: preventive measures.

  2. Carried out to deter expected aggression by hostile forces.

  3. Preventing or slowing the course of an illness or disease; prophylactic: preventive medicine; preventive health care.

n.  

  1. Something that prevents; an obstacle.

  2. Something that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease.

pre·ven'tive·ly adv., pre·ven'tive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pre·ven·ta·tive
Pronunciation: pri-'vent-&t-iv
Function: adjective or noun
: PREVENTIVE preventative drug> <preventative psychiatry>

Main Entry: 2preventive
Function: adjective
: devoted to or concerned with the prevention of disease
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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