protectiveness

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US/pɹəˈtɛktɪvnəs/US/pɹoʊˈtɛktɪvnəs/

noun

The quality of being protective.

OriginEnglish protective ← Medieval Latin prōtēctīvus →
UncommonScrabble 21
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Meanings

nounprotectiveness (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe quality of being protective.
  2. uncountableA desire to be protective and to guard against physical or emotional harm.

Origin

  1. Medieval Latinprōtēctīvus
  2. Englishprotective
  3. Englishprotectiveness

From protective + -ness.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

protectiveness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protectiveness

MLA

“protectiveness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protectiveness. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “protectiveness,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protectiveness.

Source: protectiveness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.