protective
pruh-TEHK-tihv
Protective (adj) means Designed or intended to protect. Example: “The cyclist put on a protective helmet before riding down the hill.”
adj
1
Designed or intended to protect.
"The cyclist put on a protective helmet before riding down the hill."
"A protective cover keeps the phone screen from scratching in your bag."
"Workers must wear protective gloves and goggles."
2
Feeling or showing a strong wish to guard someone from harm.
"The dog grew very protective of the baby and never left her side."
"He's fiercely protective of his younger sister."
"New parents often become intensely protective."
How to use protective
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGuarding against harm — either describing gear meant to shield you, or a person's instinct to shield someone they care about.
Common pairings
protective gear
protective of
overly protective
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Word forms
- Plural
- protectives
- Comparative
- more protective
- Superlative
- most protective
Fill the gap
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The cyclist put on a _____ helmet before riding down the hill.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin prōtēctīvus, built on the root of protect.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unprotective
Related words
Rhymes for protective
See all rhymes for protective →Frequently asked questions
What does “protective” mean?
The word “protective” means designed or intended to protect. In plain terms, guarding against harm — either describing gear meant to shield you, or a person's instinct to shield someone they care about.
How do you pronounce “protective”?
“Protective” is pronounced pruh-TEHK-tihv (/pɹəˈtɛk.tɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “protective” in a sentence?
Here is “protective” used in a sentence: “Workers must wear protective gloves and goggles.”
What part of speech is “protective”?
“Protective” is an adjective.
Where does the word “protective” come from?
The word “protective” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin prōtēctīvus, built on the root of protect.
Is “protective” a common word?
“Protective” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “protective” have?
“Protective” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: designed or intended to protect.
What is the difference between protective and protected?
Protective describes something that gives protection or a person who acts to guard someone, as in 'a protective parent' or 'protective clothing.' Protected describes the thing that receives the protection, as in 'a protected species,' so the two words sit on opposite sides of the same action.
What prepositions are used with protective?
When describing feelings, protective is usually followed by 'of,' as in 'protective of her children' or 'protective of his privacy.' The phrase 'protective toward' is also used to describe attitude or behaviour directed at someone.
What is the difference between protective and defensive?
Protective focuses on shielding someone or something from harm, often out of care, as in 'a protective older brother.' Defensive focuses on guarding against attack or criticism and can suggest being overly quick to justify oneself, so protective is warmer while defensive is more guarded.
What nouns commonly follow protective?
Protective frequently pairs with 'gear,' 'clothing,' 'equipment,' 'layer,' 'coating,' 'measures,' and 'instinct.' In these collocations it describes something designed to prevent harm or damage rather than describing an emotion.
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