protective

/prəˈtektɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /prəˈtektɪv/ (ame, ipa)

protective — adjective

  • protectivepositive
  • more protectivecomparative
  • most protectivesuperlative

1. designed or intended to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, or los

1.形容詞B1
釋義

designed or intended to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, or loss

例句

The construction workers wore protective helmets and steel-toed boots on the bridge.

collocation: protective + noun (helmets, gear, coating)

Ada applied a protective layer of wax to her wooden dining table.

同義詞
  • safeguarding

    more formal; often used in legal or institutional contexts

  • shielding

    emphasises blocking a specific threat

  • defensive

    can imply reacting against an attack rather than preventing one

反義詞
  • dangerous

    the opposite of providing safety

  • harmful

    causes damage rather than preventing it

文法句型

protective + noun

用法筆記

Commonly used before a noun (attributive position) to describe the function of an item, as in 'protective clothing' or 'protective layer.' Can also appear after a linking verb ('This coating is protective.')

常見錯誤

❌He wore protected glasses while cutting metal.
✅He wore protective glasses while cutting metal.
💡'protective' means the glasses give protection; 'protected' means the glasses have been kept safe.

2. feeling a strong desire to keep someone safe from harm, criticism, or difficulty

2.形容詞B2
釋義

feeling a strong desire to keep someone safe from harm, criticism, or difficulty, especially because you have a close emotional connection to them

例句

Salma is very protective of her younger brother and walks him to school every day.

predicative pattern: protective of + person

The mother cat was fiercely protective of her kittens and kept everyone away.

同義詞
  • caring

    broader; implies general concern, not necessarily defensive action

  • watchful

    emphasises alertness to possible danger

  • defensive

    can have a negative tone of overprotectiveness

反義詞

文法句型

protective of + noun/pronoun

用法筆記

This sense is almost always used predicatively with the preposition 'of' (e.g., 'protective of her children'). The intensity can be modified with adverbs like 'fiercely,' 'extremely,' or 'overly.'

常見錯誤

❌She is very protective for her little sister.
✅She is very protective of her little sister.
💡the correct preposition is 'of', not 'for'.
❌He feels protective about his family.
✅He feels protective of his family.
💡use 'of' after 'protective', not 'about'.