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

To reduce the risk, the CDC advises those with backyard chicken coops to wear personal protective equipment, like gloves, when handling any sick or dead birds. —Megan Forrester, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2025

The state Agriculture Department also provides testing, antivirals and personal protective equipment as needed. —Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 24 Mar. 2025

Finally, owners should avoid handling dead birds where possible—and if essential, wear personal protective equipment, including gloves and a mask, when doing so. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025

But the American Medical Manufacturers Association, which advocates for U.S. businesses that produce medical personal protective equipment, or PPE, supports the tariffs on China and increasing domestic production of those products. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for personal protective equipment

• shipment
• transhipment
• transshipment

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