prophylactic

[ proh-fuh-lak-tik, prof-uh- ]

adjective

1. defending or protecting from disease or infection, as a drug.
2. preventive or protective.

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. a prophylactic medicine or measure.
2. a preventive.
3. a device, usually a rubber sheath, used to prevent conception or venereal infection; condom.

prophylactic

/ ˌprɒfɪˈlæktɪk /

adjective

1. protecting from or preventing disease
2. protective or preventive

noun

1. a prophylactic drug or device, esp a condom

Other Words From

• pro·phy·lac·ti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prophylactic¹

First recorded in 1565–75; from Greek prophylaktikós “of guarding,” equivalent to prophylak- (base of prophylássein “to guard beforehand”) + -tikos -tic; prophylaxis

Word History and Origins

Origin of prophylactic¹

C16: via French from Greek prophulaktikos, from prophulassein to guard by taking advance measures, from pro- ² + phulax a guard

Example Sentences

Section 143 states "the regulations may impose a special restriction or requirement such as requiring a person to be vaccinated or to receive other prophylactic treatments".

From BBC

What they found was that it didn't matter whether the patient was treated with prophylactic antibiotics or not when it came to rates of post-operative infection.

From Science Daily

Thirty minutes after the single dose of alcohol, the prophylactic application of the gel reduced the alcohol level in the mice by 40 percent.

From Science Daily

Authorized by the FDA for emergency use, it’s given prophylactically and can help recipients prevent COVID-19 if they are later exposed to an infected person.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s been mostly prophylactic,” he says — “telling the industry what it can and can’t do. But it’s important to have set down the rules of the road.”

From Los Angeles Times