Definition of "prevention" in English

noun

1. The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting.

   • a fire prevention campaign

2. (medicine) Any measure intended to limit health-related risks (such as information campaigns, vaccination, early diagnosis etc.).

3. (obsolete) The act of going, or state of being, before.

4. (obsolete) Anticipation; especially, anticipation of needs, wishes, hazards and risks

5. precaution; forethought.

   • 1659, Henry Hammond, A Paraphrase and Annotations upon All the Books of the New Testament, London: Richard Davis, The Gospel according to S. LUKE, Chapter 14, verse 3, p. 238, And Jesus […] by way of prevention asked a question of the Doctors of the law and Pharisees that were present, saying, Is the working of a cure on a sick man a thing forbidden, and so unlawfull to be done upon a sabbath day?