protection

[ pruh-tek-shuhn ]

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 ( def 1 ).
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

/ 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 calledprotectionism 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 calledprotection money money demanded by gangsters for freedom from molestation
   2. freedom from molestation purchased in this way

Derived Forms

• proˈtectionist, nounadjective
• proˈtectionˌism, noun

Other Words From

• pro·tection·al adjective
• nonpro·tection noun
• over·pro·tection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of protection¹

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

Synonym Study

See cover.

Example Sentences

These soil-dwelling microbes fix nitrogen for specialized plants like legumes in return for sugars and protection.

From Science Daily

The report “From Skin to Screen: Bodily Integrity in the Digital Age” recommends that existing data protection laws be clarified to encompass all forms of bodily data.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Brella was the subject of a domestic violence protection order before her death, which was made in early September and lasted 28 days.

From BBC

Other areas of potential scrutiny are teacher job protections in K-12 schools and Head Start preschools.

From Los Angeles Times

“So-called sanctuary cities and states sound warm and fuzzy, but the protections they offer aren’t for abuelas getting ice cream, they’re for people who entered the country illegally and committed additional crimes.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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