preventive
gb/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv/ us/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv/
B2
Inglés
~ 5800
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
B2
property
1
intended to stop something bad
Done before something bad happens, in order to stop it from happening.
Patrón de uso:
preventive [action/measure/care/treatment]
Error frecuente:
Learners often confuse "preventive" with the noun "prevention" and say *"a preventive of crime"* instead of "a preventive measure against crime." They also sometimes spell it only as *"preventative"*; both are correct, but "preventive" is slightly more common in modern writing.
Sinónimos
preventative (Variant spelling with the same meaning; slightly less common in some regions.)
|
precautionary (Stresses being careful in advance; often used for steps taken just in case.)
Antónimos
reactive (Describes actions taken only after a problem has already happened.)
Colocaciones
preventive measures
|preventive care
|preventive medicine
|preventive action
|preventive detention
|preventive maintenance
Temas
health
|safety
|law
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The government announced new preventive measures to slow the spread of the virus.
- Regular exercise and a healthy diet are important forms of preventive care.
- The company invested in preventive maintenance to avoid costly breakdowns.
- She supports preventive programs that reduce youth violence before it starts.
- Some lawyers argue that preventive detention is open to abuse.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Doctors say preventive care can save lives.
- We took preventive steps to stop the fire from spreading.
- The school uses preventive programs to stop bullying.
- Good sleep is a simple preventive measure for many health problems.
- The city did preventive work on the bridge to keep it safe.
Sustantivo
technical
C1
entity
2
thing used to prevent harm
Something you use or do so that a disease, pregnancy, or other problem does not happen.
Patrón de uso:
use/take/develop [a preventive] against [something]
Error frecuente:
Learners often do not recognize "preventive" as a noun and try to say *"a prevention"* where a countable noun is needed. In medical English, however, "preventive" (or "prophylactic") is the natural countable form, as in "a preventive against malaria."
Sinónimos
prophylactic (More technical; common in medical and scientific contexts.)
|
precaution (Broader and more general; not limited to medical use.)
Antónimos
cure (A treatment used after an illness has developed, rather than something used to stop it from starting.)
Colocaciones
take a preventive
|use a preventive
|effective preventive against
|develop new preventives
Temas
health
|medicine
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Researchers are working on a new preventive that could protect children from malaria.
- Doctors hope the vaccine will act as a long‑term preventive against the disease.
- Until a reliable preventive is found, public health officials are focusing on early testing.
- This cream is marketed as a preventive for sun damage and early skin aging.
- The clinic offers several preventives, including vaccines and counseling.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The doctor gave me a preventive for the flu.
- Scientists want to make a strong preventive for this virus.
- We need a cheap preventive that everyone can use.
- This pill is used as a preventive against infection.
- They hope the new drug will be a good preventive for the disease.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
preventive
AFI
GB/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv/
US/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv/
Sílabas y acento
pre - vent - ive (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (vent)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: preventive
Noun
- Base: preventive
- Plural: preventives
Familia de palabras
Forms
preventives
noun
Core family
Related words
preventative
adjective
preventively
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unpreventable
adjective
Expresiones
preventive action
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv ˈækʃən/
fixed phrase
early action to stop problems
Action that is taken early, before a problem grows, to stop it from getting worse or from starting.
Ejemplos
- The agency took preventive action when it saw signs of a financial crisis.
- Preventive action is often cheaper than dealing with disasters afterward.
- They called for preventive action to stop the conflict from spreading.
preventive care
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv kˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
technical
health care to avoid illness
Health care, like check‑ups and tests, that you get when you are not sick, to help you stay healthy.
Ejemplos
- Her health insurance fully covers preventive care, including annual check‑ups.
- Preventive care can catch serious diseases at an early, treatable stage.
- Many people skip preventive care because they feel healthy at the moment.
preventive detention
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv dɪtˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
custody to prevent future crime
When the government keeps someone in prison not because of a trial result, but to stop possible future danger or crime.
Ejemplos
- Human rights groups criticized the use of preventive detention without trial.
- The new law allows preventive detention in cases of suspected terrorism.
- Preventive detention remains a highly controversial legal tool.
preventive measures
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv mˈɛʒɚz/
fixed phrase
steps taken to prevent harm
Actions that people take before something bad happens, in order to stop it from happening.
Ejemplos
- After the flood, the town introduced new preventive measures to protect homes.
- Schools are adding preventive measures to reduce bullying in the classroom.
- The company failed to put basic preventive measures in place before the attack.
preventive medicine
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv mˈɛdɪsən/
fixed phrase
technical
medical field to prevent disease
A part of medicine that studies how to stop people from getting sick, instead of only treating them after they get sick.
Ejemplos
- She decided to specialize in preventive medicine rather than surgery.
- Public health campaigns are a key part of preventive medicine.
- The conference focused on new research in preventive medicine.
preventive program
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæm/
fixed phrase
program to stop problems early
A planned set of actions or activities that tries to stop health, social, or other problems before they start.
Ejemplos
- The city runs a preventive program to support at‑risk youth.
- Funding for preventive programs is often cut first.
- Schools are adding preventive programs to reduce drug use.
preventive services
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv sˈɚvɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
technical
services focused on prevention
Health or social care services, such as screenings or counseling, that try to stop problems before they happen.
Ejemplos
- Many insurance plans cover preventive services without extra cost.
- The clinic expanded its preventive services in low‑income areas.
- Access to preventive services can reduce long‑term health costs.
preventive strategy
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv stɹˈætəd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
plan designed to prevent problems
A general plan that focuses on stopping problems or risks before they appear.
Ejemplos
- The company adopted a preventive strategy to manage cybersecurity risks.
- Public health experts called for a preventive strategy instead of short‑term fixes.
- A strong preventive strategy can save money and lives over time.
preventive strike
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv stɹˈaɪk/
fixed phrase
formal
attack to prevent future attack
A military attack started first, because a country believes another country may attack it in the future.
Ejemplos
- Leaders debated whether a preventive strike was morally justified.
- The general warned that a preventive strike could start a regional war.
- Critics argued that a preventive strike would break international law.
preventive treatment
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv tɹˈitmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
treatment given to stop illness
Medicine or medical care that you get before you are sick, to stop a disease from starting.
Ejemplos
- Travelers to the region are advised to take preventive treatment for malaria.
- The dentist offered a preventive treatment to strengthen the enamel.
- Preventive treatment is especially important for high‑risk patients.
preventive war
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv wˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
war to stop future threat
A war that one country starts to stop another country from becoming a danger later, not because of an attack that has already happened.
Ejemplos
- Historians still argue about whether the conflict was a preventive war.
- Many people see preventive war as both risky and unethical.
- The doctrine of preventive war changed the country's foreign policy.
preventive maintenance
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv mˈeɪntənəns/
fixed phrase
technical
regular upkeep to avoid failure
Regular checks and small repairs done on machines or buildings so they do not suddenly break.
Ejemplos
- Preventive maintenance helps extend the life of machinery.
- Good preventive maintenance can greatly extend the life of your car.
- The airline invests heavily in preventive maintenance of its fleet.
- The factory shut down for a day of preventive maintenance on its machines.
- Preventive maintenance is cheaper than fixing a major breakdown.