chemoprophylaxis

noun

che·​mo·​pro·​phy·​lax·​is ˌkē-mō-ˌprō-fə-ˈlak-səs How to pronounce chemoprophylaxis (audio)
 also  -ˌprä-fə-
: the prevention of infectious disease by the use of chemical agents
chemoprophylactic
ˌkē-mō-prō-fə-ˈlak-tik How to pronounce chemoprophylaxis (audio)
 also  -ˌprä-fə-
adjective

Examples of chemoprophylaxis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The placing of health care workers under chemoprophylaxis should not instill a sense of false security. Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2020 Chloroquine is used to treat malaria, as well as in chemoprophylaxis, which is the administering of drugs to prevent the development of disease, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN, 23 Mar. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chemoprophylaxis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

chemo- + prophylaxis

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chemoprophylaxis was in 1931

Dictionary Entries Near chemoprophylaxis

Cite this Entry

“Chemoprophylaxis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemoprophylaxis. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

chemoprophylaxis

noun
che·​mo·​pro·​phy·​lax·​is
-ˌprō-fə-ˈlak-səs also -ˌpräf-ə-
plural chemoprophylaxes -ˌsēz How to pronounce chemoprophylaxis (audio)
: the prevention of infectious disease by the use of chemical agents
chemoprophylactic adjective

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