pre·ven·ta·tive
pri-ˈven-tə-tiv 
: devoted to or concerned with preventing something from happening : preventive entry 1
The best preventative medicine that you can give to your plants is to mulch them.—
Ann Whynman
Ann WhynmanLos Angeles County promised to revamp its system, gradually reducing the use of expensive inpatient hospitals through more preventative care at outpatient clinics.—Jonathan Cohn
Jonathan Cohn
plural preventatives
: something that serves to prevent something from occurring : preventive entry 2
We've got the live vaccinia virus vaccine as a preventative for smallpox …—D. A. Henderson et al.
D. A. Henderson et al.Green onions are a mosquito preventative.—Garrison Keillor
Garrison KeillorSynonyms
Examples of preventative in a Sentence
Adjective
the department in charge of taking preventative measures against international terrorism
Recent Examples on the WebAnnie Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 June 2024
This seemed to be a preventative measure taken to stop the little boy from sucking his thumb, and other YouTubers voiced their opinions over Huxley's apparent treatment.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024
Jessica Hatcher, Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 2014
Michelle Oakley, star of Dr. Oakley Yukon Vet Watch for ticks
Prioritize tick preventatives before hitting the trails or camping with your pet.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 25 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for preventative 
Adjective
The Indian Health Service said its environmental health officers for the Phoenix department have mobilized to investigate the source of the gastrointestinal illness outbreak and to educate the community on preventative measures.
—Annie Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 June 2024
This seemed to be a preventative measure taken to stop the little boy from sucking his thumb, and other YouTubers voiced their opinions over Huxley's apparent treatment.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024
Noun
For years, the United States has been developing preventatives and treatments for Ebola, which would both provide defense if Ebola were used in warfare and reduce the spread of an outbreak of the disease.
—Jessica Hatcher, Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 2014
Michelle Oakley, star of Dr. Oakley Yukon Vet Watch for ticks
Prioritize tick preventatives before hitting the trails or camping with your pet.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 25 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for preventative
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preventative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near preventative
Cite this Entry
“Preventative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preventative. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preventative
adjective or noun
pre·ven·ta·tive
pri-ˈvent-ət-iv
Medical Definition
preventative
adjective or noun
pre·ven·ta·tive
pri-ˈvent-ət-iv
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