prophylactic
[ proh-fuh-lak-tik, prof-uh- ]
/ ˌproʊ fəˈlæk tɪk, ˌprɒf ə- /
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.
Origin of prophylactic
1565–75; < 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,
prophylactic treatment,
prophylaxis,
propine,
propinquity,
propiomazine
Example sentences from the Web for prophylactic
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
Medical definitions for prophylactic
prophylactic
[ prō′fə-lăk′tĭk, prŏf′ə- ]
n.
A prophylactic agent, device, or measure, such as a vaccine or drug.
A contraceptive device, especially a condom.
adj.
Acting to defend against or prevent something, especially disease; protective.