prophylactic

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

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Examples: prophylactic in a Sentence

Definition of prophylactic

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

2 : tending to prevent or ward off : preventive

—

prophylactically

play \ˌprō-fə-ˈlak-ti-k(ə-)lē also ˌprä-\ 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

In addition to negating ovarian cancer risk in women who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, prophylactic ovarian removal can also lower the risk of breast cancer by up to 50%.

— dr. lisa abaid, latimes.com, "Genetic screening can inform women of their breast and ovarian cancer risks," 5 July 2018
Gay and bisexual men, who are still at extremely high risk of HIV infection in America, are now encouraged to take prophylactic pills once a day that can reduce the chance of infection by 99%.

— The Economist, "Why STDs are soaring in America," 13 June 2018
Well, maybe because that is our actual interests versus prophylactic.

— Fox News, "'Dragon energy': Kanye tweets his support of Trump," 26 Apr. 2018
Approximately one in four deaths in this age group were likely prevented with prophylactic use of azithromycin, according to the study.

— mark lieber, CNN, "Common antibiotic significantly reduces child deaths across Africa," 26 Apr. 2018
In 2014, a teenager intentionally inhaled the prophylactic, according to data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

— lindsey bever, Philly.com, "In case you missed the 'condom-snorting challenge' - and didn't know it's a bad idea," 3 Apr. 2018
In 2014, a teenager intentionally inhaled the prophylactic, according to data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

— lindsey bever, courant.com, "In case you missed the 'condom-snorting challenge' - and didn't know it's a bad idea," 3 Apr. 2018
In 2014, a teenager intentionally inhaled the prophylactic, according to data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

— lindsey bever, Philly.com, "In case you missed the 'condom-snorting challenge' - and didn't know it's a bad idea," 3 Apr. 2018
In 2014, a teenager intentionally inhaled the prophylactic, according to data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

— lindsey bever, courant.com, "In case you missed the 'condom-snorting challenge' - and didn't know it's a bad idea," 3 Apr. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

prophylactic Synonyms

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

Nary an instance of emergency room visits or poison control queries or pediatricians receiving frantic calls from parents whose teens have prophylactics blocking their airways.

— heidi stevens, chicagotribune.com, "Calm down about the condom challenge, grown-ups," 2 Apr. 2018
This includes marketing and making preventative medication called PrEP (pre exposure prophylactics) more available to high-risk candidates.

— maria clark, NOLA.com, "'Test and Treat' approach to HIV epidemic could save lives," 30 Mar. 2018
When implemented as a mandatory smartphone prophylactic, Yondr becomes a means of control, not of choice, let alone of presence.

— marcel o’gorman, The Atlantic, "The Case for Locking Up Your Smartphone," 2 Feb. 2018
Their default skeptical stance is a prophylactic against the wiles of wishful thinking, a dare to true believers to provide extraordinary evidence in support of extraordinary claims.

— lee billings, Scientific American, "It’s Never Aliens—until It Is," 9 Jan. 2018
The answer, based on conversations with administration officials familiar with the selection process, comes down to tactics and prophylactics.

— Newsweek, "Analysis," 14 Mar. 2018
Some antidotes can be administered as prophylactics to troops about to go into battle, if there is a risk of nerve agents being employed.

— simon cotton, Scientific American, "Nerve Agents: What Are They and How Do They Work?," 9 Mar. 2018
Lockers seem to be the smartphone prophylactic of choice for French ministers who must attend meetings sans portable, but for school students, the ensuing nomophobia—the fear of being without your smartphone—might be enough to provoke a revolution.

— marcel o’gorman, The Atlantic, "The Case for Locking Up Your Smartphone," 2 Feb. 2018
Their main function is to make the broilers fatten up more quickly or to act as a prophylactic against the cramped conditions in which they are raised.

— The Economist, "Industrial farmingHow the use of antibiotics in poultry farming changed the way America eats," 21 Sep. 2017

First Known Use of prophylactic

circa 1641

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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