personal protective equipment

noun

variants or less commonly personal protection equipment
: protective devices, garments, or coverings (such as respirators, helmets, face shields, boots, or gloves) that are worn especially by workers to minimize exposure to hazards that may cause injury or illness
Additional funds of $1,000 from the federal grant are also available to help train firefighters up to the National Firefighter Protection Association standard. … Equipment to be purchased includes 74 complete sets of personal protective equipment which include boots, gloves, helmets, pants, coats, hoods and traffic safety vests.Will James et al.
Part of the grant will be used for training in the use of personal protective equipment, for use by officers in the event of a chemical- or oil-related incident.Rich Hewitt
While the global plastic waste problem has long been out of control, Covid-19 has intensified our use of single-use plastics, pushing the issue to new heights. The waste includes test kits and personal protection equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves, the vast majority of which comes from hospitals, rather than individual use.Victoria Burrows
abbreviation PPE

Examples of personal protective equipment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For governments, this means ordering vaccine supplies and stocking up on personal protective equipment. Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 Although dozens of cows were sick, and their owner expected that number to climb, none of the farm’s workers wore personal protective equipment and vehicles from off site were let in and out with nary a hint of concern. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024 State public health officials recommended personal protective equipment for those who are working with animals or materials that may be infected with the bird flu virus, like face shields or safety goggles for eye protection, N95 masks and gloves. Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2024 There is also the use of gowns and gloves, when necessary, to make sure that if one patient has a transmittable condition, that pathway is interrupted by health care workers wearing the right PPE, or personal protective equipment. Discover Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for personal protective equipment 

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of personal protective equipment was in 1934

Dictionary Entries Near personal protective equipment

Cite this Entry

“Personal protective equipment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personal%20protective%20equipment. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

personal protective equipment

noun
variants also personal protection equipment
: protective devices, garments, or coverings (such as respirators, face shields, or gloves) that are worn especially by workers to minimize exposure to hazards that may cause injury or illness
Personal protective equipment should be simple to remove after use without contaminating the user. … It should be disposable whenever possible and disposed of appropriately, immediately after removal.T. M. Cook, Anaesthesia
In the attempt to prevent the spread of a viral infection to and from healthcare workers, the health community generally relies on the efficacy of personal protective equipment (PPE): gloves, masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, and gowns.Ivo Boškoski et al., Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
abbreviation PPE
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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