preventive
intended to stop something bad
Done before something bad happens, in order to stop it from happening.
preventive [action/measure/care/treatment]
- 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.
- 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.
thing used to prevent harm
Something you use or do so that a disease, pregnancy, or other problem does not happen.
use/take/develop [a preventive] against [something]
- 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.
- 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.
- Base: preventive
- Base: preventive
- Plural: preventives
preventive action
1early action to stop problems
Action that is taken early, before a problem grows, to stop it from getting worse or from starting.
- 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
1health care to avoid illness
Health care, like check‑ups and tests, that you get when you are not sick, to help you stay healthy.
- 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
1custody 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.
- 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
1steps taken to prevent harm
Actions that people take before something bad happens, in order to stop it from happening.
- 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
1medical 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.
- 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
1program to stop problems early
A planned set of actions or activities that tries to stop health, social, or other problems before they start.
- 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
1services focused on prevention
Health or social care services, such as screenings or counseling, that try to stop problems before they happen.
- 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
1plan designed to prevent problems
A general plan that focuses on stopping problems or risks before they appear.
- 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
1attack to prevent future attack
A military attack started first, because a country believes another country may attack it in the future.
- 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
1treatment given to stop illness
Medicine or medical care that you get before you are sick, to stop a disease from starting.
- 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
1war 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.
- 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
1regular upkeep to avoid failure
Regular checks and small repairs done on machines or buildings so they do not suddenly break.
- 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.