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contraception

American  
[kon-truh-sep-shuhn] / ˌkɒn trəˈsɛp ʃən /

noun

  1. the deliberate prevention of conception or impregnation by any of various drugs, techniques, or devices; birth control.

    Patients in this study must agree to practice contraception for the duration of their participation.

  2. a drug, technique, or device used to deliberately prevent conception or impregnation.

    You can also request free contraception by undergoing a simple, secure online consultation.

    Hormonal contraception, like any other medication, can interact with other drugs being taken.
contraception British  
/ ˌkɒntrəˈsɛpʃən /

noun

  1. the intentional prevention of conception by artificial or natural means. Artificial methods in common use include preventing the sperm from reaching the ovum (using condoms, diaphragms, etc), inhibiting ovulation (using oral contraceptive pills), preventing implantation (using intrauterine devices), killing the sperm (using spermicides), and preventing the sperm from entering the seminal fluid (by vasectomy). Natural methods include the rhythm method and coitus interruptus Compare birth control family planning

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
contraception Cultural  

  1. Any practice that serves to prevent conception during sexual activity.

Etymology

Origin of contraception

First recorded in 1885–90; contra- 1 ( def. ) + (con)ception

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Together, the data showed that long-term hormonal contraception and permanent surgical sterilization are linked to an average lifespan increase of about ten percent.

From Science Daily

She says making contraception, which is a necessity, more expensive could mean students or those struggling financially "take a risk".

From BBC

Americans may not be as religious as they were 50 years ago, and a majority no doubt don’t share the Little Sisters’ objection to contraception.

From The Wall Street Journal

That’s right: Digital contraception might sound like neo-futurist witchcraft, but the underlying idea is based on the age-old practice of temperature-based fertility tracking—and modernized by predictive algorithms and smart wearables.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dr. Erica Johnstone, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist, said that hormonal birth control has many potential benefits beyond contraception, but that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.