preventive: Meaning and Definition of

pre•ven•tive

Pronunciation: (pri-ven'tiv), [key]
— adj.
  1. of or noting a drug, vaccine, etc., for preventing disease; prophylactic.
  2. serving to prevent or hinder: preventive measures.
—n.
  1. a drug or other substance for preventing disease.
  2. a preventive agent or measure.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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