# prevention

> English word · Noun · IPA /pɹɪˈvɛnʃən/ · frequency rank #4,476

## Definitions
1. The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting.
2. Any measure intended to limit health-related risks (such as information campaigns, vaccination, early diagnosis etc.).
3. The act of going, or state of being, before.
4. Anticipation; especially, anticipation of needs, wishes, hazards and risks
5. precaution; forethought.

## Etymology
From Middle English prevencion, from Medieval Latin prēventiō.

## Easily confused with
- **preventive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prevention-vs-preventive)
- **preventing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/preventing-vs-prevention)

## Common misspellings (16)
`pervention`, `pprevention`, `preevntion`, `preveniton`, `prevenntion`, `prevension`, `preventino`, `preventionn`, `preventoin`, `preventtion`, `prevetnion`, `prevnetion`, `prevvention`, `prrevention`, `prveention`, `rpevention`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/prevention