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

Pfizer is also running a study to see if the pills help people who’ve only been exposed to covid-19, as a sort of prophylactic treatment.

From MIT Technology Review

They also said that it may make sense for certain at-risk populations to be prescribed antivirals preemptively, as a prophylactic.

From Vox

Wynne’s sense is that North American home-canning recommendations are a prophylactic measure — to ensure the least possible chance of anything going awry.

From Washington Post

Bischofberger said one of the most powerful uses of Tamiflu was as a preventive measure — when flu hits a region or a nursing home, people could be given a prophylactic daily pill.

From Washington Post

A 1991 “60 Minutes” profile of Limbaugh included one of his patented themed updates — in this case a condom update — cued up with “Up, Up and Away,” and attacking the distribution of prophylactics in schools.

From Washington Post

Section 5, by contrast, works as a prophylactic measure, stopping discrimination before it can occur.

From The Daily Beast

In some sense, their embrace of self-described black conservatives can be seen as a prophylactic measure.

From The Daily Beast

Michael Douglas inadvertently gave a great boost to the lowly prophylactic when he said oral sex gave him cancer.

From The Daily Beast

Six months later, at a hospital 600 miles from home, my mom underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy.

From The Daily Beast

Saying “no” is a crucial prophylactic for cities that aspire to keep their politics clean.

From The Daily Beast

In the second class he is even superior, because the latter has not the same prophylactic against pride.

From Project Gutenberg

Cold infusion of tar was used in our colonies as a prophylactic against the Small Pox.

From Project Gutenberg

Certain physicians employed a prophylactic remedy made up of very many substances.

From Project Gutenberg

Prophylactic, prof-i-lak′tik, adj. guarding against: defending from disease.

From Project Gutenberg

This was followed a few years later by the preparation of a prophylactic against cholera.

From Project Gutenberg