preventive

preventive definition - medical

pre·ven·tive (prĭ-vĕnˈtĭv) or pre·ven·ta·tive (-tə-tĭv)

adjective
Preventing or slowing the course of an illness or disease; prophylactic.
noun
A preventive agent or treatment.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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