# preventive

> English word · Adjective · IPA /pɹɪˈvɛntɪv/ · frequency rank #15,031

## Definitions
1. Preventing, hindering, or acting as an obstacle to.
2. Carried out to deter military aggression.
3. Slowing the development of an illness; prophylactic.
4. Going before; preceding.

## Etymology
Borrowed from New Latin praeventīvus. Equivalent to prevent + -ive.

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

## Common misspellings (15)
`perventive`, `ppreventive`, `preevntive`, `prevenitve`, `prevenntive`, `preventiev`, `preventivve`, `preventtive`, `preventvie`, `prevetnive`, `prevnetive`, `prevventive`, `prreventive`, `prveentive`, `rpeventive`

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