PREVENTIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does preventive mean? 

• PREVENTIVE (noun)
  The noun PREVENTIVE has 3 senses:

1. remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease

2. any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome

3. an agent or device intended to prevent conception

  Familiarity information: PREVENTIVE used as a noun is uncommon.

• PREVENTIVE (adjective)
  The adjective PREVENTIVE has 2 senses:

1. preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease

2. tending to prevent or hinder

  Familiarity information: PREVENTIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PREVENTIVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

preventative; preventive; prophylactic

Context example:

the doctor recommended several preventatives

Hypernyms ("preventive" is a kind of...):

curative; cure; remedy; therapeutic (a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain)

Derivation:

preventive (preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

encumbrance; hinderance; hindrance; hitch; incumbrance; interference; preventative; preventive

Hypernyms ("preventive" is a kind of...):

impediment; impedimenta; obstructer; obstruction; obstructor (any structure that makes progress difficult)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "preventive"):

clog (any object that acts as a hindrance or obstruction)

speed bump (a hindrance to speeding created by a crosswise ridge in the surface of a roadway)

Derivation:

preventive (tending to prevent or hinder)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An agent or device intended to prevent conception

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

birth control device; contraceptive; contraceptive device; preventative; preventive; prophylactic device

Hypernyms ("preventive" is a kind of...):

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "preventive"):

cervical cap (a contraceptive device consisting of a small thimble-shaped cup that is placed over the uterine cervix to prevent the entrance of spermatozoa)

coil (a contraceptive device placed inside a woman's womb)

condom; prophylactic; rubber; safe; safety (contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse)

contraceptive diaphragm; diaphragm; pessary (a contraceptive device consisting of a flexible dome-shaped cup made of rubber or plastic; it is filled with spermicide and fitted over the uterine cervix)

intrauterine device; IUD (contraceptive device consisting of a piece of bent plastic or metal that is inserted through the vagina into the uterus)

morning-after pill (a large dose of estrogen taken orally within 24 to 72 hours after intercourse; prevents implantation of a fertilized ovum and so acts as a contraceptive; commonly used after rape or incest)

anovulant; anovulatory drug; birth control pill; contraceptive pill; oral contraceptive; oral contraceptive pill; pill (a contraceptive in the form of a pill containing estrogen and progestin to inhibit ovulation and so prevent conception)

spermatocide; spermicide (a contraceptive agent that kills spermatozoa)

Derivation:

preventive (tending to prevent or hinder)

• PREVENTIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease

Synonyms:

preventative; preventive; prophylactic

Context example:

a prophylactic drug

Similar:

healthful (conducive to good health of body or mind)

Derivation:

preventive (remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Tending to prevent or hinder

Synonyms:

preventative; preventive

Similar:

blockading (blocking entrance to and exit from seaports and harbors)

clogging; hindering; impeding; obstructive (preventing movement)

deterrent (tending to deter)

frustrating; frustrative; thwarting (preventing realization or attainment of a desire)

precautional; precautionary (taken in advance to protect against possible danger or failure)

obviating; preclusive (made impossible)

pre-emptive; preemptive (designed or having the power to deter or prevent an anticipated situation or occurrence)

prohibitive; prohibitory (tending to discourage (especially of prices))

Also:

protective (intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind)

Antonym:

permissive (not preventive)

Derivation:

prevent (stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state)

prevent (keep from happening or arising; make impossible)

preventive (an agent or device intended to prevent conception)

preventive (any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome)

 Context examples 

Any of the dental diagnostic, preventive, and restorative services provided to meet the needs of a patient.

(Dental Procedure, NCI Thesaurus)

Diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive health service provided for individuals in the community.

(Community Health Service, NCI Thesaurus)

A clinical trial that is not therapeutic, preventive or diagnostic.

(Clinical Trial, Other, NCI Thesaurus)

Interventions include but are not restricted to drugs, cells and other biological products, surgical procedures, radiologic procedures, devices, behavioral treatments, process-of-care changes, and preventive care.

(Clinical trial, NCI Thesaurus)

Study in which persons exposed to risk or given a designated preventive or therapeutic regimen are observed over a period or at intervals to determine the outcome of the exposure or regimen.

(Follow-up Study, NCI Thesaurus)

Immunomodulating agents can be preventive or therapeutic and can suppress or activate the immune system, either directly or indirectly.

(Immunomodulating agent, NCI Thesaurus)

These products are used for preventive or therapeutic purposes.

(Orthomolecular Medicine, NCI Thesaurus)

This is a general term encompassing medical, social, behavioral, environmental and other acts that can have preventive and/or therapeutic impact.

(Intervention, NCI Thesaurus)

Any therapeutic or preventive precedure that involves inhibition of the production or activity of an interferon.

(Interferon Suppression, NCI Thesaurus)

Chemotherapy or radiation therapy given to the central nervous system (CNS) as a preventive treatment.

(Central nervous system prophylaxis, NCI Dictionary)