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View synonyms for prophylactic

prophylactic

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

adjective

  1. defending or protecting from disease or infection, as a drug.
  2. preventive or protective.


noun

  1. Medicine/Medical. a prophylactic medicine or measure.
  2. a device, usually a rubber sheath, used to prevent conception or venereal infection; condom.

prophylactic

/ ˌprɒfɪˈlæktɪk /

adjective

  1. protecting from or preventing disease
  2. protective or preventive
“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


noun

  1. a prophylactic drug or device, esp a condom
“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
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Other Words From

  • pro·phy·lac·ti·cal·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of prophylactic1

First recorded in 1565–75; from Greek prophylaktikós “of guarding,” equivalent to prophylak- (base of prophylássein “to guard beforehand”) + -tikos -tic; prophylaxis
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Word History and Origins

Origin of prophylactic1

C16: via French from Greek prophulaktikos, from prophulassein to guard by taking advance measures, from pro- ² + phulax a guard
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Example Sentences

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.

They also said that it may make sense for certain at-risk populations to be prescribed antivirals preemptively, as a prophylactic.

From Vox

Wynne’s sense is that North American home-canning recommendations are a prophylactic measure — to ensure the least possible chance of anything going awry.

Bischofberger 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.

A 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.

Section 5, by contrast, works as a prophylactic measure, stopping discrimination before it can occur.

In 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.

Six 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.

Cold 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.

Prophylactic, 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.

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Prophetsprophylactically