preventiveadjective [ before noun ]
uk/prɪˈven.tɪv/us/prɪˈven.t̬ɪv/also preventative,C2 intended to stop something before it happens:
In the past ten years, preventive measures have radically reduced levels of tooth decay in children.
preventative medicine
More examples
- preventive care
- Ginseng is used as a restorative and preventive remedy.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Preventing and impeding
- avert
- avoid
- avoidable
- bar
- be a drag on sb/sth idiom
- block sth out
- blot
- bottleneck
- derail
- fireproof
- hold out on sb
- hold sb/sth back
- hold/keep sb/sth at bay idiom
- holding pattern
- impede
- prevention
- prevention is better than cure idiom
- prohibit
- pull
- pull the rug from under sb's feet idiom
See more results »