DictionaryAI

protective

Saypruh-TEK-tivUS · UK/pɹəˈtɛk.tɪv/AUS/pɹəˈtek.tɪv/

Noun pluralprotectives

4 meanings of protective

Practice

  1. 1
    adjective
    Made or used to keep someone or something safe from harm.

    Like a shell that keeps an egg from breaking.

    She wore a protective helmet while cycling to work.

    Thick protective gloves kept his hands safe from the hot pan.

    Note
  2. 2
    adjective
    Feeling a strong wish to keep someone safe and to defend them.

    Like a hen that covers her chicks with her wings.

    He is very protective of his little sister at school.

    The mother dog grew protective when strangers came near her puppies.

    Similardefensive

    Oppositeneglectful

    Note
  3. 3
    nounBritishcountable
    A thing that keeps a person or object safe from harm.

    He slipped a protective over the saw blade before putting it away.

    The cricketers strapped protectives onto their shins before the match.

    Similarguard, shield

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncountable
    A polite word for a condom, used to stop disease or pregnancy.

    He always kept a protective in his wallet, just in case.

    The clinic handed out protectives to anyone who asked.

    Similarcondom

Practice

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Origin

It comes from the Medieval Latin word "prōtēctīvus." It can also be seen as "protect" plus "-ive."