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prevention

B2
noun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /prɪvˈɛnʃən/

US

  • /priˈvɛnʃən/

Description

Prevention isn't about fixing problems - it's about stopping them from starting in the first place. Think of a knight preparing for battle: they don't wait to be attacked; they put on armor and sharpen their sword ahead of time. It's like building a dam to stop flooding or getting vaccinated to protect yourself from a disease.

Prevention can apply to big things - like crime prevention programs in cities - or small things, like using sunscreen to avoid sunburn. You might practice fire drills at school, or do regular car maintenance to help stop accidents. It's all about being prepared and taking steps before something bad happens. A famous saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Examples

  1. 1

    Hygiene

    Regular handwashing is an important part of flu prevention.

  2. 2

    Crime

    The city invested more money in crime prevention.

  3. 3

    Fire safety

    Smoke alarms are required for fire prevention in all apartment buildings.

  4. 4

    Health program

    The program focuses on the prevention of childhood obesity.

    • Pattern

      prevention of + problem/harm

      the usual pattern for the harm being stopped

  5. 5

    Cancer screening

    Early screening plays a key role in cancer prevention.

  6. 6

    Workplace safety

    The company introduced a new accident prevention plan after several workers were hurt.

  7. 7

    Proverb

    Doctors often say prevention is better than cure, especially with heart disease.

    • Phrase

      prevention is better than cure

      it is better to stop a problem early than fix it later

Forms and spellings

2 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • preventionnoun

Forms

  • preventionspluralnoun