protective

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​tec·​tive prə-ˈtek-tiv How to pronounce protective (audio)
: serving to protect the body or one of its parts from disease or injury
a protective reflex

protective

2 of 2

noun

: an agent (as a medicine or a dressing) that protects the body or one of its parts (as from irritation or injury)
vitamins are protectives against certain deficiency diseases

Dictionary Entries Near protective

Cite this Entry

“Protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/protective. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!