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.

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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

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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

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

"Today's decision gives thousands of people in that situation an extra layer of protection, on top of the medicines they are already taking."

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The SocGen team recommended investors prepare for deteriorating market conditions by building protection in credit-default swaps.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

That means companies now have to pay increasingly steep rates to get protection against threats such as missile strikes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

“Sing the lullaby, which you learned with the bow guard. Then we’ll start the two water monster songs, and then we’ll go back to the protection song, which you learned without the bow guard.”

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Related Words

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