prophylactic

adjective pro·phy·lac·tic \ ˌprō-fə-ˈlak-tik also ˌprä- \

Definition of prophylactic

1 :guarding from or preventing the spread or occurrence of disease or infection

2 :tending to prevent or ward off :preventive

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prophylactically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See prophylactic defined for English-language learners

See prophylactic defined for kids

Examples of prophylactic in a Sentence

the prophylactic use of antibiotics
the many prophylactic measures that city officials could have taken to reduce the scope of the disaster

Recent Examples of prophylactic from the Web

The mortifying incident calls to mind a 2012 gaffe when Zac Efron dropped a prophylactic on the orange carpet of The Lorax.

— christina dugan, PEOPLE.com, "That Awkward Moment! Bachelorette's Bad Chad Johnson Pulls a Zac Efron on Date with DWTS' Karina Smirnoff," 10 Aug. 2017
Last year, the District began the nation’s first campaign to encourage black women to begin taking the prophylactic drug known as PrEP, which drastically cuts the risk of contracting HIV.

— rachel chason, Washington Post, "D.C. reports sharp decline in new HIV infections," 27 June 2017
At UNC Medical Center, Hales received a series of blood tests, took prophylactic antibiotics, and went through the process of completing a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) report that documented her physical injuries.

— rebecca grant, Cosmopolitan, "She Told a Guy She Worked at an Abortion Clinic. On Their Next Date, He Raped Her.," 26 June 2017
The search resulted not in a miraculous new weapon but a program of simulated brainwashing designed as a prophylactic against enemy mistreatment.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The True Story of Brainwashing and How It Shaped America," 22 May 2017
The Emoluments Clause was a prophylactic approach: if government officials never accept anything of value from foreigners, then there’s no ambiguity about whether such gifts are influencing them.

— ryan lizza, The New Yorker, "Will Trump Avoid a Constitutional Crisis?," 10 Jan. 2017
All of the Alabama linemen take part in what is known as prophylactic bracing.

— sam borden, New York Times, "Colleges Swear by Football Knee Braces. Not All Players and Experts Do.," 8 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prophylactic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of prophylactic

Greek prophylaktikos, from prophylassein to be on guard, from pro- before + phylassein to guard, from phylak-, phylax guard

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1574

See Words from the same year

prophylactic Synonyms

Synonyms

precautionary, preventative, preventive

Related Words

deterrent, deterring; negating, neutralizing, nullifying; baffling, balking, foiling, frustrating, thwarting; blocking, hampering, hindering, impeding, retardant, stalling

Near Antonyms

abetting, aiding, assisting; easing, facilitating, smoothing; encouraging, forwarding, fostering, furthering, nurturing, promoting

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

prophylactic

noun

Definition of prophylactic

:something prophylactic; especially :a device and especially a condom for preventing venereal infection or conception

See prophylactic defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of prophylactic from the Web

The probiotics build up healthy bacteria in your gut and the Pepto-Bismol acts as a prophylactic that coats your digestive track like a protective sleeve and can help filter out organisms in contaminated water or food.

— mark ellwood, chicagotribune.com, "Don't eat the airplane food, and other jet-set tips," 20 July 2017
The probiotics build up healthy bacteria in your gut and the Pepto-Bismol acts as a prophylactic that coats your digestive track like a protective sleeve and can help filter out organisms in contaminated water or food.

— mark ellwood, chicagotribune.com, "Don't eat the airplane food, and other jet-set tips," 20 July 2017
The probiotics build up healthy bacteria in your gut and the Pepto-Bismol acts as a prophylactic that coats your digestive track like a protective sleeve and can help filter out organisms in contaminated water or food.

— mark ellwood, Bloomberg.com, "Why You Should Never Eat Food on Planes, and Other Jet-Set Tips," 19 July 2017
Many places in Asia, South America, and Africa require malaria prophylactics.

— sandy bauers, Philly.com, "5 Questions: How to keep kids safe while traveling," 23 June 2017
Education, prophylactics, and drugs like PrEP have cut down its transmission.

— nick stockton, WIRED, "How Crispr Could Snip Away Some of Humanity’s Worst Diseases," 5 May 2017

First Known Use of prophylactic

circa 1641

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

PROPHYLACTIC Defined for English Language Learners

prophylactic

adjective

Definition of prophylactic for English Language Learners

medical : designed to prevent disease

prophylactic

noun

Definition of prophylactic for English Language Learners

medical : something that is designed to prevent the spread of disease or infection

Medical Dictionary

prophylactic

adjective pro·phy·lac·tic \ ˌprō-fə-ˈlak-tik also ˌpräf-ə- \

medical 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

—

prophylactically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

prophylactic

noun

medical Definition of prophylactic

:something (as a medicinal preparation) that is prophylactic; especially :a device and especially a condom for preventing venereal infection or conception