1. Intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind
   "protective coatings"; "kept the drunken sailor in protective custody"; "animals with protective colouring"; "protective tariffs"; "a protective covering"; "the use of protective masks and equipment"
    
2. Showing care
   "a protective mother"
    
3. (usually followed by ‘of’) solicitously caring or mindful
   "protective of his reputation"

1. Contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse
   "The health clinic distributed free protectives to promote safe sex";
   - condom, rubber [N. Amer, informal], safety [US, informal], safe, prophylactic, French letter [Brit, archaic, informal], johnny [Brit, informal], franger [Austral, informal], protection
    
2. A protective covering or device
   "He wore a protective over his uniform during the messy job"

Derived forms: protectives

See also: antifertility, careful, cautionary, contraceptive, custodial, defensive, evasive, overprotective, preservative, preventative, preventive, prophylactic, protecting, restrictive, safety-related, tender, tutelar, tutelary

Type of: birth control device, contraceptive, contraceptive device, preventative, preventive, prophylactic device

Antonym: unprotective

Encyclopedia: Protective