What is the difference between preventive and preventative?

Question

please explain thanks.

Answer 1

Preventive is an noun or adjective describing  an obstacle to something harmful.

example : you employ preventive actions.

A smoke alarm is a preventive against fire.

Preventative is a variant of preventive and is used in the same ways.

Flossing is a tooth decay preventative.

Paint is a rust preventative.

I employ preventative actions for safety's sake.

Answer 2

preventative:

Same as  preventive

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/d...

preventive (ALSO preventative)

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.a...

preventative (plural preventatives)

   1. Preventive (in all senses).

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/preventati...

Answer 3

The words are often used interchangeably to denote whatever prevents something else happening or occurring, especially when it is undesirable. However, preventative is often applied to an actual object, especially in noun form, while preventive is mostly reserved for an abstract concept, and remains an adjective.