There is no difference between preventive and preventative. They are both adjectives that mean 'used to stop something bad from happening.' Both words are commonly used in contexts concerning health care, as in 'preventive/preventative medicine.'

Preventive is the original adjective corresponding to prevent, but preventative has gained ground and is now a common variant. The two share all their definitions. As of early 2013, preventive is about three times as common as preventative in general web searches.

2019年5月21日 · Preventative means “helping to prevent or hinder.” Though it often refers to medicine, you can also use it to talk about other things that you try to stop from happening. And in noun form, it refers to something that hinders or inhibits. No, you are not experiencing déjà vu.

2022年2月25日 · Is it preventive or preventative? Preventive and preventative usually mean the same thing—they’re both commonly used as adjectives to describe things intended to prevent something (negative) from happening. Historically, preventive has been more common.

3 天之前 · Both preventive and preventative mean the same thing: something designed to stop a problem before it happens. You can use them as adjectives or nouns. Adjective Example: She follows a preventive health plan to avoid illness. Noun Example: Flu shots are a common preventive against influenza.

2022年6月3日 · Both preventive and preventative refer to medications or treatments designed to keep someone from getting sick, or to actions taken to keep unwanted consequences from occurring. A person would use a preventive or preventative measure to avoid experiencing an unwanted outcome.

Preventive and preventative both function as adjectives and nouns and refer to things that prevent, hinder, or act as obstacles. For example, You’re probably still asking yourself, “Okay, when do I decide which one to use?” The short answer to …

2025年1月14日 · Navigating the difference between “preventive” and “preventative” involves understanding their origins, usage patterns, and the preferences of your audience. By choosing the appropriate term based on context and adhering to established guidelines, you can ensure clear and effective communication.

2024年12月16日 · Both ‘preventive’ and ‘preventative’ describe measures intended to stop problems before they occur. ‘Preventive’ is the more traditional form, whereas ‘preventative’ is an acceptable longer variant.

The one clear difference between the two words is that the shorter one, preventive, is used much more frequently than preventative, possibly three or four times as much, depending on which sources you check.