preventive

Meanings

Adjective

• Preventing, hindering, or acting as an obstacle to.
• Carried out to deter military aggression.
• Slowing the development of an illness; prophylactic.
• Going before; preceding.

Noun

• A thing that prevents, hinders, or acts as an obstacle to.
• A thing that slows the development of an illness.
• A contraceptive, especially a condom.

Origin

• prevent + -ive