preventive

Adjective

• tending to prevent or hinder

• preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease
  • preventive medicine
    
  • vaccines are prophylactic
    
  • a prophylactic drug
    

Noun

• an agent or device intended to prevent conception

• any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome

• remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease
  • the doctor recommended several preventatives
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  preventative , prophylactic , contraceptive , contraceptive device , prophylactic device , birth control device , hindrance , hinderance , hitch , encumbrance , incumbrance , interference