Definition

Noun: 1. The act of stopping something from happening or arising: The action of hindering, averting, or keeping an event, process, or condition from occurring. 2. A measure or course of action taken to stop something undesirable: A specific action, policy, or procedure implemented to avert harm, disease, or a negative outcome.

Usage

"Prevention" is used to describe the concept or action of proactively stopping something bad or unwanted. It is commonly used in contexts like health, safety, crime, and risk management. It is often contrasted with "cure" or "treatment."

Examples

• General: "The prevention of forest fires is a top priority for the park service."
• Health: "Vaccination is a key tool in the prevention of infectious diseases."
• Proverb: "Prevention is better than cure." (It is wiser to stop a problem from happening than to fix it afterward.)
• Formal/Policy: "The committee focuses on accident prevention in the workplace."

Advanced Usage

• "Prevention of": This is the most common collocation, followed by the noun for the thing being stopped.
  • Example: "The program is dedicated to the prevention of youth violence."
• Institutional/Field Names: The word is central to the names of many fields and agencies.
  • Example: "She works at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention."

Variants and Related Words

• Prevent (verb): To stop something from happening or someone from doing something.
  • Example: "Regular maintenance can prevent major breakdowns."
• Preventive (adjective): Designed to stop something undesirable from occurring.
  • Example: "He takes preventive medication for migraines."
• Preventable (adjective): Describing something that can be stopped from happening.
  • Example: "Many childhood diseases are preventable through vaccination."

Synonyms

• Aversion: The act of turning something away or preventing it.
• Preclusion: The action of making something impossible in advance.
• Deterrence: The action of discouraging an action or event through fear of the consequences.
• Prophylaxis: (Medical term) Action taken to prevent disease.

Antonyms

• Cause: A person or thing that gives rise to an action or condition.
• Encouragement: The action of giving support or confidence.
• Promotion: The activity of helping something to happen or develop.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure": This idiom emphasizes that a small effort to prevent a problem is more valuable than a large effort to fix it later. It is a more elaborate version of "Prevention is better than cure."

Noun

1. the act of preventing
   • there was no bar against leaving
   • money was allocated to study the cause and prevention of influenza