Meanings
comparative more protective · superlative most protective
- Serving or intended to protect.
The fighter dropped into a protective stance.
2 more examples
The castle's moat served a protective function.
Pour a solvent such as paint thinner, mineral spirits, or a liquid sandpaper product in a metal can or enamel bowl. Wear protective gloves.
2004, Mickey Baskett, Fabulous Painted Furniture, page 13 - Wishing to protect; defensive of somebody or something.
Mother bears are famously protective of their cubs.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveintended or adapted to afford protection of some kind
adjectiveshowing care
adjective(usually followed by ‘of’) solicitously caring or mindful
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Medieval Latinprōtēctīvus
- Englishprotective
Borrowed from Medieval Latin prōtēctīvus. By surface analysis, protect + -ive.
More words from Medieval Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian защите́н, предпазен
- защите́н (zaštitén)serving, intended or wishing to protect
- предпазен (predpazen)serving, intended or wishing to protect
- презерватив (prezervativ)A condom
Czech ochranný
- ochrannýserving, intended or wishing to protect
Esperanto protekta
- protektaserving, intended or wishing to protect
Finnish suoja-, suojaava
- suoja-serving, intended or wishing to protect
- suojaavaserving, intended or wishing to protect
- turvaavaserving, intended or wishing to protect
- suojaSomething that protects
- kondomiA condom
French protecteur
- protecteurserving, intended or wishing to protect
German Schutz-
- Schutz-serving, intended or wishing to protect
Hebrew הגנתי, מגן
- הגנתי (haganatí)serving, intended or wishing to protect
- מגן (magén)serving, intended or wishing to protect
Indonesian protektif
- protektifserving, intended or wishing to protect
Irish fálach, díonmhar
- fálachserving, intended or wishing to protect
- díonmharserving, intended or wishing to protect
Italian protettivo
- protettivoserving, intended or wishing to protect
Portuguese protetor, protetivo
- protetorserving, intended or wishing to protect
- protetivoserving, intended or wishing to protect
- preservativoA condom
Romanian protector
- protectorSomething that protects
Russian защи́тный, охра́нный
- защи́тный (zaščítnyj)serving, intended or wishing to protect
- охра́нный (oxránnyj)serving, intended or wishing to protect
Spanish protector, protector
- protectorserving, intended or wishing to protect
- protectorSomething that protects
Welsh amddiffynol
- amddiffynolserving, intended or wishing to protect
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with protective
Cite this entry
protective. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protective
“protective.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protective. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “protective,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protective.
Source: protective on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.