contraceptive
gb/kˌɑntɹəsˈɛptɪv/ us/kˌɑntɹəsˈɛptɪv/
B2
English
~ 10000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
B2
entity
1
drug or device to prevent pregnancy
A drug, tool, or method that people use so that a woman does not become pregnant.
Usage pattern:
to use [a] contraceptive
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "contraceptive" (a countable thing, like a pill or device) with "contraception" (the uncountable idea or practice of preventing pregnancy). For example, "She uses a contraception" is incorrect; it should be "She uses a contraceptive" or "She uses contraception."
Synonyms
birth control (More general and slightly less clinical; often used for methods and practices overall, not only a single product.)
|
contraceptive device (Refers only to physical devices (like condoms or IUDs), not pills or other methods.)
Antonyms
fertility treatment (Aims to help people become pregnant, the opposite purpose of a contraceptive.)
Collocations
use a contraceptive
|modern contraceptives
|access to contraceptives
|provide contraceptives
|effective contraceptives
|long-acting contraceptives
Themes
health
|medicine
|sexuality
|family
|body
Examples
- Many young people still do not have reliable access to modern contraceptives.
- She visited the clinic to discuss which contraceptive would be safest for her.
- Condoms are the only contraceptives that also protect against many sexually transmitted infections.
- Some contraceptives must be taken every day, while others work for several years.
- Public health campaigns often focus on making contraceptives affordable and widely available.
Learner examples
- She takes a contraceptive to avoid pregnancy.
- The doctor talked to them about different contraceptives.
- Condoms are a common contraceptive for young couples.
- He forgot to bring a contraceptive, so they decided not to have sex.
- Many women cannot pay for good contraceptives.
unknown
technical
B2
property
2
designed to prevent pregnancy
Describes a pill, device, or method that stops a woman from becoming pregnant.
Usage pattern:
contraceptive [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners may forget that "contraceptive" is often used before a noun, as in "contraceptive methods" or "contraceptive pill." Saying "methods contraceptive" or overusing the noun form (e.g., "pill contraceptive") is unnatural. The correct order is always "contraceptive" + noun.
Synonyms
birth-control (Used mainly before nouns (e.g., "birth-control methods"); slightly less technical and more everyday than "contraceptive".)
Antonyms
fertility-enhancing (Describes treatments or methods that increase the chance of pregnancy rather than preventing it.)
Collocations
contraceptive methods
|contraceptive use
|contraceptive pill
|contraceptive services
|contraceptive options
|contraceptive access
Themes
health
|medicine
|sexuality
|body
Examples
- The government is expanding free contraceptive services in rural areas.
- She discussed various contraceptive options with her doctor before choosing an IUD.
- Contraceptive use has risen sharply among women in their twenties.
- They ran a campaign to raise awareness about safe contraceptive methods.
- Access to reliable contraceptive information is essential for public health.
Learner examples
- They talked about different contraceptive methods at the clinic.
- She takes a contraceptive pill every day.
- Many people do not know about all the contraceptive options.
- The hospital offers free contraceptive advice.
- Good contraceptive care can help plan a family.
Grammar
Dictionary form
contraceptive
IPA
GB/kˌɑntɹəsˈɛptɪv/
US/kˌɑntɹəsˈɛptɪv/
Syllables & stress
con - tra - cept - ive (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (cept)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: contraceptive
- Plural: contraceptives
Word family
Forms
contraceptives
noun
Core family
contraception
noun
Negative and opposite forms
noncontraceptive
adjective
Expressions
barrier contraceptive
1/bˈɛɹiɚ kˌɑntɹəsˈɛptɪv/
fixed phrase
technical
device that blocks sperm physically
A contraceptive, like a condom or diaphragm, that stops sperm from entering the uterus by creating a physical barrier.
Examples
- Condoms are the most commonly used barrier contraceptives.
- Barrier contraceptives can help protect against some sexually transmitted infections.
- The clinic offers information about different barrier contraceptive options.
contraceptive pill
1/kˌɑntɹəsˈɛptɪv pˈɪl/
fixed phrase
technical
hormonal pill to prevent pregnancy
A pill with hormones that a woman takes, usually every day, to stop pregnancy.
Examples
- She started taking the contraceptive pill when she was twenty-one.
- The doctor explained the possible side effects of the contraceptive pill.
- Many women prefer the contraceptive pill because it is easy to use.
emergency contraceptive pill
1/ɪmˈɚd͡ʒənsi kˌɑntɹəsˈɛptɪv pˈɪl/
fixed phrase
technical
pill after sex to prevent pregnancy
A special pill a woman can take soon after sex, if no contraceptive was used or it failed, to try to stop pregnancy.
Examples
- You can buy the emergency contraceptive pill at many pharmacies without a prescription.
- The nurse explained that the emergency contraceptive pill should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex.
- The emergency contraceptive pill is not meant to be used as a regular method of birth control.
hormonal contraceptive
1/hˈɔɹmˌoʊnəl kˌɑntɹəsˈɛptɪv/
fixed phrase
technical
contraceptive that uses hormones
A contraceptive method, such as a pill or injection, that uses hormones in the body to stop pregnancy.
Examples
- Some women cannot use hormonal contraceptives because of medical conditions.
- Hormonal contraceptives can also help regulate painful periods for some users.
- The study compared hormonal contraceptives with non-hormonal methods like copper IUDs.