1. Tending to prevent or hinder
   "The company took preventative action to avoid a potential lawsuit";
   - preventive
    
2. Preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease
   "preventative medicine";
   - preventive, prophylactic

1. Remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease
   "the doctor recommended several preventatives";
   - preventive, prophylactic
    
2. Any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome
   "Good locks are an effective preventative against theft";
   - hindrance, hinderance [rare], hitch, preventive, encumbrance, incumbrance
    
3. An agent or device intended to prevent conception
   "The pharmacist explained the various types of preventatives available";
   - contraceptive, preventive, contraceptive device, prophylactic device, birth control device

Derived forms: preventatives

See also: blockading, clogging, deterrent, frustrating, frustrative, healthful, hindering, impeding, obstructive, obviating, precautional, precautionary, preclusive, preemptive, pre-emptive, prohibitive, prohibitory, protective, thwarting

Type of: curative, cure, device, impediment, impedimenta, obstructer, obstruction, obstructor, remedy, therapeutic

Antonym: permissive