Added 9 October 2026
protective
/pɹəˈtɛk.tɪv/ adjective
Latin root: prōtēctīvus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about protective at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind.
a protective covering
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Showing care.
a protective mother
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(usually followed by `of') solicitously caring or mindful.
protective of his reputation
Origin
Borrowed from Medieval Latin prōtēctīvus. By surface analysis, protect + -ive.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)