adj · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/pɹəˈtɛk.tɪv/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada, US:/pɹəˈtɛk.tɪv/
Canada, US:/pɹoʊˈtɛk.tɪv/
Australian:/pɹəˈtek.tɪv/
rhymes with -ɛktɪv
CMU ARPABET:P R AH0 T EH1 K T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Serving or intended to protect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The fighter dropped into a protective stance.
The castle's moat served a protective function.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Wishing to protect; defensive of somebody or something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Mother bears are famously protective of their cubs.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Something that protects.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A condom.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective
Meaning 5
intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a protective covering
the use of protective masks and equipment
protective coatings
kept the drunken sailor in protective custody
animals with protective coloring
protective tariffs
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: unprotective
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
showing care
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a protective mother
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin prōtēctīvus. By surface analysis, protect + -ive.
Across languages
Translations
31 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
պաշտպանական
(paštpanakan)
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Azerbaijani:
qoruyucu
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Bulgarian:
защите́н
(zaštitén)
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Bulgarian:
предпазен
(predpazen)
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Czech:
ochranný
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Esperanto:
protekta
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Finnish:
suoja-
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Finnish:
suojaava
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Finnish:
turvaava
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
French:
protecteur
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
German:
Schutz-
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Hebrew:
הגנתי
(haganatí)
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Hebrew:
מגן
(magén)
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Indonesian:
protektif
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Irish:
fálach
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Irish:
díonmhar
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Italian:
protettivo
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Kazakh:
қорғауыш
(qorğauyş)
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Old English:
healdsum
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Portuguese:
protetor
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Portuguese:
protetivo
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Russian:
защи́тный
(zaščítnyj)
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Russian:
охра́нный
(oxránnyj)
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Spanish:
protector
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
Welsh:
amddiffynol
— serving, intended or wishing to protect
