Preventive

/prɪˈvɛn.tɪv/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

tending to prevent something, especially to prevent disease or problems.

The doctor recommended a preventive measure to reduce the risk of heart disease.

aimed at stopping something from happening.

Preventive maintenance on the machinery can save the company from costly repairs later.

designed to stop or hinder a situation from worsening.

The preventive approach taken by the government helped control the outbreak of the virus.

From Latin 'praeventivus', from 'praevenire' meaning 'to come before'.

preventive medicine

Healthcare that focuses on disease prevention.

preventive action

Steps taken to prevent an undesirable outcome.

preventive maintenance

Regular maintenance to prevent equipment failures.

protection

The act of keeping something safe from harm.

caution

Care taken to avoid danger or mistakes.

intervention

The act of intervening to prevent an event.

Prevention-focused approach

Let's take a preventive strategy to avoid that issue again.