protective
wanting to keep others safe
Wanting to keep a person or thing safe, especially because you love or care about them.
protective of [someone/something]
- She’s very protective of her younger brother and always walks him home from school.
- His dog is so protective that it barks whenever a stranger comes near the house.
- He grew more protective of his privacy after the story was published online.
- Parents can become overly protective and stop their children from learning independence.
- I feel strangely protective of this project, even though I joined the team only recently.
- My mother is very protective of me.
- The big cat is protective of its babies.
- He is protective of his little sister at school.
- She became more protective of her friends after the accident.
- Their family is very protective of their home.
giving protection from harm
Made or used to keep people or things safe from harm, damage, or danger.
protective [noun]
- Construction workers must wear protective clothing such as helmets and gloves.
- The new law introduces stronger protective measures for online consumers.
- A thin protective layer of wax was applied to the wood to prevent water damage.
- The company installed a protective barrier around the machine to reduce the risk of injury.
- Many countries use protective tariffs to support their local industries.
- You should wear protective gloves when you clean with strong chemicals.
- The phone has a protective case around it.
- They built a protective wall to stop the water.
- The doctor wore protective clothing in the hospital.
- The city made new protective rules for workers.
- Base: protective
overly protective
1too protective in a limiting way
Caring so much about safety that you do not let someone do normal or safe things alone.
- Her parents are so overly protective that they still text her every hour.
- He can be overly protective of his younger brother and never lets him go out alone.
protective coating
1substance that protects a surface
A material put on the outside of something to keep it safe from water, heat, or damage.
- The metal pipes were given a protective coating to prevent corrosion.
- We applied a clear protective coating to the table to stop scratches.
protective gear
1equipment that protects the body
Special clothes or items that you wear to keep your body safe.
- Cyclists should always wear protective gear, including a helmet and gloves.
- The factory does not allow workers on the floor without proper protective gear.
protective instinct
1natural urge to keep others safe
A strong natural feeling that makes you want to keep someone safe from harm.
- When she saw the child fall, her protective instinct took over.
- Parents often feel a powerful protective instinct toward their children.
protective layer
1covering that prevents damage
A thin part or level of something that covers another thing and keeps it safe.
- The paint acts as a protective layer against rust.
- A thin protective layer of plastic was wrapped around the product.
protective measures
1actions that provide protection
Steps or actions that people or organizations take to keep people or things safe.
- The government introduced new protective measures to slow the spread of the virus.
- We need to take protective measures to secure our data.
protective order
1legal order to keep someone away
A legal paper from a court that tells someone they must not contact or go near another person.
- She obtained a protective order against her former partner.
- Violating a protective order can result in immediate arrest.
protective tariff
1tax on imports to shield local industry
A tax on products from other countries that is used to help and protect businesses in your own country.
- The government imposed a protective tariff on steel imports.
- Economists debated whether the new protective tariffs would start a trade war.
protective clothing
1clothes that protect the body
Clothes that people wear to stay safe from danger, chemicals, heat, or dirt.
- Workers must wear protective clothing when handling dangerous chemicals.
- Laboratory staff must wear protective clothing when handling dangerous materials.
- Firefighters have special protective clothing to keep them safe from heat.
- Firefighters rely on heavy protective clothing to work in high temperatures.
protective custody
1being held for own protection
When the police or prison keep someone in a safe place to protect them from harm.
- The witness was placed in protective custody after receiving threats.
- The child was taken into protective custody by social services.
- The prisoner is now in protective custody away from the main population.
protective custody
2officially held to keep safe
When the police or other officials keep someone in a secure place to keep them safe from danger.
- The key witness was placed in protective custody before the trial.
- Police held the suspect in protective custody after they received threats.