What does preventive mean?
Preventive describes an action, treatment, or measure intended to stop a problem before it occurs or develops. It is especially common in discussions of medicine and public health, where preventive care, preventive treatment, and preventive medicine can help identify risks and limit the effects of illness before they become serious. The word also applies more broadly to safety, maintenance, and planning: preventive maintenance, for example, involves regular checks intended to prevent machinery from failing. “Preventive” is sometimes confused with “preventative,” but both forms are accepted in many contexts, with “preventive” generally being more frequent in American English. The term carries a practical, forward-looking connotation, emphasizing avoidance and preparation rather than repairing damage after it has occurred.
Tending or serving to prevent something bad from happening.
"Vaccination is an important preventive measure against certain infections."
Commonly used with “care,” “medicine,” “measure,” “treatment,” and “maintenance.”
A preventive action, treatment, or safeguard; especially, a medicine or measure intended to prevent disease.
"The doctor recommended a preventive to protect her during the flu season."
This noun use is less common than the adjective use and often appears in the plural.
A preventive is a small action today designed to avoid a much larger problem tomorrow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How preventive is actually used
The adjective is common in medical, public-health, safety, and maintenance contexts. In American English, “preventive” is generally preferred; “preventative” is especially common in British English.
Easily confused with preventive
Both words mean intended to prevent something; “preventive” is the more common form in American English, while “preventative” is widely used in British English and is also accepted in American English.