preventive
UK: prɪˈvɛntɪv | US: prɪˈvɛntɪv
adj. intended to stop something undesirable from happening
n. a measure taken to prevent disease or other unwanted outcomes
preventive = pre<before> + vent<come> + ive<adjective suffix>
- pre<before>: From Latin prae-, meaning "before" or "in advance."
- vent<come>: From Latin venire, meaning "to come."
- ive<adjective suffix>: A suffix forming adjectives, indicating a tendency or function.
Etymology Origin:
The word preventive originates from Latin praeventus (past participle of praevenire, "to come before"). The morpheme pre- signifies anticipation, while vent- conveys the idea of arrival or occurrence. Combined, they form prevent, meaning "to act beforehand to stop something." The suffix -ive turns it into an adjective, describing actions or measures aimed at stopping problems before they arise.
Vaccination is a preventive measure against infectious diseases.
The doctor recommended a preventive health check-up.
Regular exercise can serve as a preventive for heart disease.
The company implemented preventive maintenance to avoid equipment failure.
Preventive diplomacy aims to resolve conflicts before they escalate.