Definition of "preventative"

"That part of mental hygiene which has a prophylactic character falls into two classes, group preventative mental hygiene […]"

1920, Lillien Jane Martin, Mental hygiene: two years' experience of a clinical psychologist, Warwick &York (1920), p. 78

"Preventative defense comes in two flavors […]"

1968, G. Anthony Wedge, N. A. P.: New American Party, Geddes Press Printers (1968), p. 155

"The goals of preventative maintenance are to reduce the likelihood of hardware failures, […]"

2006, Robert Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson, Repairing & Upgrading Your PC, O'Reilly (2006), p. 70