Preventive - Definition

adj 1: preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease;
"preventive medicine"; "vaccines are prophylactic"; "a
prophylactic drug" [syn: preventive, preventative,
prophylactic]
2: tending to prevent or hinder [syn: preventive,
preventative] [ant: permissive]
n 1: remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or
disease; "the doctor recommended several preventatives"
[syn: preventive, preventative, prophylactic]
2: any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome [syn:
hindrance, hinderance, hitch, preventive,
preventative, encumbrance, incumbrance, interference]
3: an agent or device intended to prevent conception [syn:
contraceptive, preventive, preventative, contraceptive
device, prophylactic device, birth control device]