preventative

/prəˈvɛnɾətɪv/

/prəˈvɛntətɪv/

Other forms: preventatives

Use the adjective preventative to describe something that helps keep you free of disease, like a healthy diet and plenty of exercise.

If it prevents illness, it's preventative. You can also use the word for things that hinder you, like a preventative speed bump that keeps you from rushing home to watch your favorite TV show, but it's more commonly a medical or health term. "Preventative medicine," for example, is focused on avoiding diseases rather than treating them. The Latin root word, praeventus, means "to hinder."

Definitions of preventative

1. adjective

   tending to prevent or hinder
   synonyms: preventive

   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)

   protective

   intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind
2. adjective

   preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease
   synonyms: preventive, prophylactic

   healthful

   conducive to good health of body or mind
3. noun

   any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome
   synonyms: encumbrance, hinderance, hindrance, hitch, incumbrance, interference, preventive

   types:

   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

   type of:

   impediment, impedimenta, obstructer, obstruction, obstructor

   any structure that makes progress difficult
4. noun

   remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease
   “the doctor recommended several preventatives”

   synonyms: preventive, prophylactic

   type of:

   curative, cure, remedy, therapeutic

   a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain
5. noun

   an agent or device intended to prevent conception
   synonyms: birth control device, contraceptive, contraceptive device, preventive, prophylactic device

   types:

   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

   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

   IUD, intrauterine device

   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

   Demulen

   trade name for an oral contraceptive

   Enovid

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing mestranol and norethynodrel

   Loestrin

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing estradiol and norethindrone

   loop

   an intrauterine device in the shape of a loop

   Lo/Ovral

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing estradiol and norgestrel

   Micronor

   trade name for and oral contraceptive containing the progestin compound norethindrone

   Modicon

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing estradiol and norethindrone

   Norinyl

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing norethindrone and mestranol

   Norlestrin

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing estradiol and norethindrone

   Nor-Q-D

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing norethindrone

   Ovocon

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing estradiol and norethindrone

   Ovral

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing estradiol and norgestrel

   Ovrette

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing norgestrel

   Ovulen

   trade name for an oral contraceptive containing mestranol and a progestin compound

   type of:

   device

   an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose