prophylactic

[ proh-fuh-lak-tik, prof-uh- ]

/ ˌproʊ fəˈlæk tɪk, ˌprɒf ə- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prophylactic ON THESAURUS.COM

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 WORDS

contraceptive, preventative, preventive

Nearby words

prophesy, prophet, prophetess, prophetic, prophets, prophylactic, 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

Related forms

pro·phy·lac·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for prophylactic

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|DAILY BEAST
Six months later, at a hospital 600 miles from home, my mom underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy.
I’m 25 and I Have the Angie Gene|Abby Haglage|May 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The speech contained a sentence of prophylactic praise for initiative and enterprise, hard work and personal responsibility.
Obama's Fighting Speech - Part 2|David Frum|January 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Yet many doctors recommend aspirin as a prophylactic for everyone at risk of heart disease.
Giving Medicine a Dose of Free Speech|David Frum|December 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Murray himself explains this decision as a prophylactic measure, a means to avoid hot-button issues of race and ethnicity.
Now All Americans Are Losing Ground|David Frum|February 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
His attitude is prophylactic, rather than polemic, for the “philosophy” has not as yet taken deep root.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6|Various
Now, there is no need of explaining the prophylactic importance of observations such as these!
Pedagogical Anthropology|Maria Montessori
He even regarded it as a prophylactic against certain diseases.
The Life of Sir Richard Burton|Thomas Wright
The belief in the prophylactic power of tobacco was, however, very generally held.
The Social History of Smoking|G. L. Apperson
Cold infusion of tar was used in our colonies as a prophylactic against the Small Pox.
Epidemics Examined and Explained: or, Living Germs Proved by Analogy to be a Source of Disease|John Grove

British Dictionary definitions 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for prophylactic

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.