preventive

About 5.82 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective Preventing, hindering, or acting as an obstacle to.
2. adjective Carried out to deter military aggression.
3. adjective Slowing the development of an illness; prophylactic.
4. adjective Going before; preceding.
5. noun A thing that prevents, hinders, or acts as an obstacle to.
6. noun A thing that slows the development of an illness.

   A good preventive against heart disease is a healthy lifestyle.

7. noun A contraceptive, especially a condom.

Similar words

deterrent prohibitory thwarting prohibitive preclusive obstructive hindering hindrance interference preventative

Often followed by

measures medicine maintenance and detention health services care measure action

Word family

preventively preventiveness preventivenesses preventives