prophylactic
[ proh-fuh-lak-tik, prof-uh- ]
/ ˌproʊ fəˈlæk tɪk, ˌprɒf ə- /
adjective
defending or protecting from disease or infection, as a drug.
preventive or protective.
noun
Medicine/Medical. a prophylactic medicine or measure.
a preventive.
a device, usually a rubber sheath, used to prevent conception or venereal infection; condom.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
- prophesy,
- prophet,
- prophetess,
- prophetic,
- prophets,
- prophylactic treatment,
- prophylaxis,
- propine,
- propinquity,
- propiomazine
Origin of prophylactic
1565–75; < Greek prophylaktikós of guarding, equivalent to prophylak- (base of prophylássein to guard beforehand) + -tikos -tic. See prophylaxis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for prophylactic
prophylactic
/ (ˌprɒfɪˈlæktɪk) /
adjective
protecting from or preventing disease
protective or preventive
noun
a prophylactic drug or device, esp a condom
Word Origin for prophylactic
C16: via French from Greek prophulaktikos, from prophulassein to guard by taking advance measures, from pro- ² + phulax a guard
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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prophylactic
1570s, originally of medicines, "that tends to prevent disease," from Middle French prophylactique (16c.) and directly as a Latinized borrowing of Greek prophylaktikos "precautionary," from prophylassein "keep guard before, ward off, be on one's guard," from pro- "before" (see pro-) + phylassein, Ionic variant of phylattein "to watch over, to guard," but also "cherish, keep, remain in, preserve" (see phylactery).
The noun is first recorded 1640s, "a medicine or treatment to prevent disease;" meaning "condom" is from 1943, replacing earlier preventive (1822), preventative (1901). Condoms originally were used more to thwart contagious disease than to prevent pregnancy.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
prophylactic
[ prō′fə-lăk′tĭk, prŏf′ə- ]
n.
A prophylactic agent, device, or measure, such as a vaccine or drug.
A contraceptive device, especially a condom.
adj.
Acting to defend against or prevent something, especially disease; protective.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.