protective

Universal Words adjective 1 [onlybeforenoun] providing or intended to provide protection: Workers should wear full protective clothing. * a protective layer of varnish * a protective barrier against the sun's rays 2 ~ (of / towards sb/sth) having or showing a wish to protect sb/sth: She had been fiercely protective towards him as a teenager. * He was extremely protective of his role as advisor. * He put a protective arm around her shoulders. * Parents can easily become over-protective of their children (= want to protect them too much). 3 intended to give an advantage to your own country's industry: protective legislation / tariffs protectively adverb: She clutched her bag protectively. protectiveness noun [U]