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prophylactic
[ proh-fuh-lak-tik, prof-uh- ]
/ ˌproʊ fəˈlæk tɪk, ˌprɒf ə- /
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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.
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Origin of prophylactic
First recorded in 1565–75; from Greek prophylaktikós “of guarding,” equivalent to prophylak- (base of prophylássein “to guard beforehand”) + -tikos -tic; see prophylaxis
OTHER WORDS FROM prophylactic
pro·phy·lac·ti·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby prophylactic
prophesy, prophet, prophetess, prophetic, Prophets, prophylactic, prophylactically, prophylaxis, propine, propinquity, propionaldehyde
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use prophylactic in a sentence
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
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