'Preventive' definitions:

Definition of 'preventive'

From: WordNet
adjective
Preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease; "preventive medicine"; "vaccines are prophylactic"; "a prophylactic drug" [syn: preventive, preventative, prophylactic]
adjective
Tending to prevent or hinder [syn: preventive, preventative] [ant: permissive]
noun
Remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease; "the doctor recommended several preventatives" [syn: preventive, preventative, prophylactic]
noun
Any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome [syn: hindrance, hinderance, hitch, preventive, preventative, encumbrance, incumbrance, interference]
noun
An agent or device intended to prevent conception [syn: contraceptive, preventive, preventative, contraceptive device, prophylactic device, birth control device]

Definition of 'Preventive'

From: GCIDE
  • Preventive \Pre*vent"ive\, a. [Cf. F. pr['e]ventif.]
  • 1. Going before; preceding. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Any previous counsel or preventive understanding. --Cudworth. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Tending to defeat or hinder; obviating; preventing the access of; as, a medicine preventive of disease. [1913 Webster]
  • Physic is either curative or preventive. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
  • Preventive service, the duty performed by the armed police in guarding the coast against smuggling. [Eng] [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Preventive'

From: GCIDE
  • Preventive \Pre*vent"ive\, n. That which prevents, hinders, or obstructs; that which intercepts access; in medicine, something to prevent disease; a prophylactic. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'preventive'

From: Moby Thesaurus