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prophylactic

[ proh-fuh-lak-tik, prof-uh- ]
/ ˌproʊ fəˈlæk tɪk, ˌprɒf ə- /
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See synonyms for: prophylactic / prophylactics 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 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, adverb
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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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