# preventable

/pɹiˈvɛntəbəɫ/ (US) · /pɹɪvˈɛntəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/preventable
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

describing something bad that does not have to happen if you take the right actions. You use this for things like accidents or illnesses that you can stop before they start.

For teachers: capable of being stopped or avoided through timely intervention or precautionary measures. Often used in medical, safety, or policy contexts to describe avoidable negative outcomes.

## Examples

- Many common house fires are preventable with a smoke alarm.
- Health officials emphasize that these diseases are preventable if children receive their scheduled vaccinations on time.
- The inquiry concluded that the industrial disaster was entirely preventable, citing a systemic failure to maintain safety valves and ignore early warning signs from the pressure sensors.

## Usage notes

- Typically used to modify nouns representing negative events, such as 'deaths', 'accidents', or 'errors'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.