protection

American  

[pruh-tek-shuhn] / prəˈtɛk ʃən /

noun

1. the act of protecting or the state of being protected; preservation from injury or harm.

   Synonyms:

   safety, refuge, security

2. a thing, person, or group that protects.

   This vaccine is a protection against disease.

   Synonyms:

   bulwark, shield, defense, guard

3. patronage.

   Synonyms:

   sponsorship, aegis

4. Insurance. coverage.

5. Informal.

   1. money paid to racketeers for a guarantee against threatened violence.

   2. bribe money paid to the police, politicians, or other authorities for overlooking criminal activity.

6. Economics. protectionism.

7. a document that assures safety from harm, delay, or the like, for the person, persons, or property specified in it.

   Synonyms:

   permit, pass

8. Archaic. a document given by the U.S. customs authorities to a sailor traveling abroad certifying that the holder is a citizen of the U.S.

---

protection British  

/ prəˈtɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act of protecting or the condition of being protected

2. something that protects

3. 1. the imposition of duties or quotas on imports, designed for the protection of domestic industries against overseas competition, expansion of domestic employment, etc

   2. Also called: protectionism.  the system, policy, or theory of such restrictions Compare free trade

4. a document that grants protection or immunity from arrest or harassment to a person, esp a traveller

5. mountaineering security on a climb provided by running belays, etc

6. informal

   1. Also called: protection money.  money demanded by gangsters for freedom from molestation

   2. freedom from molestation purchased in this way

---

Related Words

See cover.

Other Word Forms

• nonprotection noun
• overprotection noun
• protectional adjective
• protectionism noun
• protectionist noun

Etymology

Origin of protection

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English proteccio(u)n, from Late Latin prōtēctiōn-, stem of prōtēctiō “shelter,” literally, “a covering in front”; equivalent to protect + -ion

Example Sentences

However, this protection comes with limited upside given that it does not eliminate the risk of either poor long-term performance or the policy lapsing.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

That shift reduces exposure to extreme swings in egg prices, limiting upside in peak markets but providing more downside protection when prices fall.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Several companies face the loss of patent protection on top-selling medicines in the next several years, threatening the loss of tens of billions of dollars in sales apiece.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

These connections, he wrote, "raise broader questions about how Epstein was able to maintain influence, credibility, and protection across borders for so long".

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

“For your own protection, Max, all the kids you’ve ever known so far in your life—every single one—they’ve all been fakes. Machines. Robots. Uh...”

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• conservation
• insurance
• preservation
• safeguard
• safety
• security
• shelter
• stability