preventative
preventative — 形容詞
1. meant to keep a problem, illness, or accident from happening in the first place
預防的
用於防止某事發生的
meant to keep a problem, illness, or accident from happening in the first place — for example, taking medicine before you catch a cold, or checking equipment before it breaks down
Felix's dentist told him that regular check-ups are an important form of preventative care.
Felix 的牙醫告訴他，定期檢查是一種重要的預防性照護。
attributive: preventative care
The company spent money on preventative maintenance for all its factory machines last year.
該公司去年花錢對所有工廠機器進行預防性維護。
collocation: preventative maintenance
Ravindra drinks green tea as a preventative habit to keep his heart healthy.
Ravindra 喝綠茶作為一種預防習慣，以保持心臟健康。
Simple preventative steps like washing your hands can stop many common infections from spreading.
像洗手這樣簡單的預防步驟，就能阻止許多常見感染的傳播。
- preventive
interchangeable in meaning; shorter form, slightly more common in medical writing
- precautionary
emphasises actions taken beforehand to avoid danger, rather than general prevention
- protective
suggests shielding against harm, not necessarily stopping something before it starts
文法句型
preventative + noun (measure, care, medicine, maintenance)
be + preventative
用法筆記
This word is interchangeable with 'preventive', which has the same meaning. 'Preventive' appears slightly more often in formal medical writing, while 'preventative' is more frequent in everyday speech and general writing. Both are standard and neither is wrong.
常見錯誤
preventative — 名詞
1. a substance, medicine, or action used to stop an illness or other unwanted condi
預防措施
用以預防疾病或問題的措施
a substance, medicine, or action used to stop an illness or other unwanted condition from starting or getting worse
Christopher takes vitamin D capsules as a preventative against winter colds.
Christopher 服用維生素 D 膠囊，作為一種預防冬季感冒的措施。
pattern: preventative against + [disease]
The mosquito nets from the aid workers became the main preventative against malaria.
來自救援人員的蚊帳，成為預防瘧疾的主要措施。
pattern: preventative for + [disease]
Élise uses sunscreen every morning as a preventative for sun damage to her skin.
Élise 每天早上塗防曬乳，作為預防皮膚曬傷的措施。
Doctors agree that a balanced diet is the best preventative against long-term health problems.
醫生一致認為，均衡飲食是預防長期健康問題的最佳方式。
- preventive
interchangeable noun form, slightly more common in medical texts
- precaution
a step taken in advance to avoid risk; broader than the health-focused noun sense
- safeguard
a measure that protects against possible harm or loss; more formal and general
文法句型
a/one preventative + against + [disease/problem]
a/one preventative + for + [disease/problem]
serve as a preventative
use something as a preventative
用法筆記
The noun 'preventative' is less common than the adjective. In many contexts, speakers prefer the phrase 'preventative measure' or simply 'prevention' (e.g., 'the prevention of disease' rather than 'a preventative against disease'). The noun form is most natural in medical or health-related contexts when referring to a specific substance or treatment.