prophylactic
defending or protecting from disease or infection, as a drug.
preventive or protective.
Medicine/Medical. a prophylactic medicine or measure.
a preventive.
a device, usually a rubber sheath, used to prevent conception or venereal infection; condom.
Origin of prophylactic
1Other words from prophylactic
- pro·phy·lac·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Words Nearby prophylactic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use prophylactic in a sentence
Pfizer is also running a study to see if the pills help people who’ve only been exposed to covid-19, as a sort of prophylactic treatment.
How Pfizer made an effective anti-covid pill | Antonio Regalado | February 4, 2022 | MIT Technology ReviewThey also said that it may make sense for certain at-risk populations to be prescribed antivirals preemptively, as a prophylactic.
Wynne’s sense is that North American home-canning recommendations are a prophylactic measure — to ensure the least possible chance of anything going awry.
I found an old-school technique to conquer my jam fears. Then I tried to figure out if it’s safe. | Charlotte Druckman | August 26, 2021 | Washington PostBischofberger said one of the most powerful uses of Tamiflu was as a preventive measure — when flu hits a region or a nursing home, people could be given a prophylactic daily pill.
The quest for a pill to fight viruses gets a $3.2 billion boost | Carolyn Y. Johnson | June 17, 2021 | Washington PostA 1991 “60 Minutes” profile of Limbaugh included one of his patented themed updates — in this case a condom update — cued up with “Up, Up and Away,” and attacking the distribution of prophylactics in schools.
Restoring the Fairness Doctrine can’t prevent another Rush Limbaugh | Heather Hendershot | February 19, 2021 | Washington Post
Section 5, by contrast, works as a prophylactic measure, stopping discrimination before it can occur.
The Supreme Court’s Ruling and the End of the Civil-Rights Era | Adam Winkler | June 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTIn some sense, their embrace of self-described black conservatives can be seen as a prophylactic measure.
Michael Douglas inadvertently gave a great boost to the lowly prophylactic when he said oral sex gave him cancer.
Thanks to Michael Douglas, It’s a Great Day for Dental Dams | Eliza Shapiro | June 3, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTSix months later, at a hospital 600 miles from home, my mom underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy.
Saying “no” is a crucial prophylactic for cities that aspire to keep their politics clean.
In the second class he is even superior, because the latter has not the same prophylactic against pride.
A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy | Isaac HusikCold infusion of tar was used in our colonies as a prophylactic against the Small Pox.
Certain physicians employed a prophylactic remedy made up of very many substances.
Catholic Churchmen in Science | James J. Walshprophylactic, prof-i-lak′tik, adj. guarding against: defending from disease.
This was followed a few years later by the preparation of a prophylactic against cholera.
The Popular Science Monthly, June, 1900 | Various
British Dictionary definitions for prophylactic
/ (ˌprɒfɪˈlæktɪk) /
protecting from or preventing disease
protective or preventive
a prophylactic drug or device, esp a condom
Origin of prophylactic
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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