PROTECTIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does protective mean? 

• PROTECTIVE (adjective)
  The adjective PROTECTIVE has 3 senses:

1. intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind

2. showing care

3. (usually followed by 'of') solicitously caring or mindful

  Familiarity information: PROTECTIVE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROTECTIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind

Context example:

protective tariffs

Similar:

cautionary; prophylactic (warding off)

antifertility; contraceptive; prophylactic (capable of preventing conception or impregnation)

custodial; tutelar; tutelary (providing protective supervision; watching over or safeguarding)

evasive (avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger especially enemy fire)

overprotective (overly protective)

preservative (tending or having the power to preserve)

protecting (shielding (or designed to shield) against harm or discomfort)

restrictive ((of tariff) protective of national interests by restricting imports)

safety-related (providing or ensuring safety)

Also:

defensive (intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack)

preventative; preventive (tending to prevent or hinder)

Antonym:

unprotective (not affording protection)

Derivation:

protect (shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage)

protect (use tariffs to favor domestic industry)

protectiveness (the quality of providing protection)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Showing care

Context example:

a protective mother

Similar:

tender (given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality)

Derivation:

protectiveness (a feeling of protective affection)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(usually followed by 'of') solicitously caring or mindful

Context example:

protective of his reputation

Similar:

careful (exercising caution or showing care or attention)

Derivation:

protectiveness (the quality of providing protection)

 Context examples 

These results suggest that vitamin D has a protective effect on the disease process underlying MS.

(Vitamin D Levels Predict Multiple Sclerosis Progression, NIH)

"Subcutaneous fat is more benign or even protective compared to visceral fat."

(New Potential Approach Found to Type 2 Diabetes Treatment, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Treating wild-type mice with the antibodies after exposure to the Zaire ebolavirus appeared to have a protective effect, as did treating the altered mice after exposure to Sudan ebolavirus.

(Antibodies from Ebola survivor protect mice and ferrets against related viruses, NIH)

Similarly, the NIH researchers found that mutant MDA5 in the girl’s respiratory tissues could not recognize HRVs, preventing her immune system from producing protective signaling proteins called interferons.

(Scientists discover rare genetic susceptibility to common cold, National Institutes of Health)

This vaccine also provides active immunization and protective immunity against CMV infection in CMV-negative patients exposed to infected donor cells or tissues in transplant recipients.

(CMVpp65/gB Plasmid Vaccine ASP0113, NCI Thesaurus)

They also can lead to infections because they damage your skin's protective barrier.

(Burns, NIH: National Institute of General Medical Sciences)

It is also being evaluated for its protective effects on the gastrointestinal tract in people undergoing radiation therapy.

(Pentosan polysulfate, NCI Dictionary)

The outer protective shell of a virus.

(Capsid Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

But to the cub the spectacle of her protective rage was pleasing.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

In addition, since CD40 ligand is important to other functions of T-lymphocytes, they also have a defect in some of the protective functions of their T-lymphocytes.

(CD40 Ligand Deficiency, NCI Thesaurus)