pro ‧ tec ‧ tive /prəˈtektɪv/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ protection , ↑ protector , ↑ protectionism , ↑ protectionist , ↑ protectiveness , ↑ protectorate ; adjective : ↑ protected ≠ ↑ unprotected , ↑ protective , ↑ protectionist ; verb : ↑ protect ; adverb : ↑ protectively ]
1 . [only before noun] used or intended for protection:
protective clothing
Sunscreen provides a protective layer against the sun’s harmful rays.
2 . wanting to protect someone from harm or danger
protective towards
I can’t help feeling protective towards my kids.
protective of
He’s very protective of his younger brother.
3 . intended to give an advantage to your own country’s industry:
protective tariffs
—protectively adverb
—protectiveness noun [uncountable]