prophylactic

¹pro·phy·lac·tic

adj \ˌprō-fə-ˈlak-tik also ˌpräf-ə-\

Definition of PROPHYLACTIC

1

: guarding from or preventing the spread or occurrence of disease or infection <prophylactic therapy>

2

: tending to prevent or ward off : preventive

—pro·phy·lac·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb