protect

verb pro·tect \ prə-ˈtekt \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of protect

transitive verb

1 a : to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction : guard

b : defend 1c

protect the goal

2 : to maintain the status or integrity of especially through financial or legal guarantees: such as

a : to save from contingent financial loss

b : to foster or shield from infringement or restriction

salesmen with protected territories

protect one's rights

; specifically : to restrict competition for (something, such as a domestic industry) by means of tariffs or trade controls

3 : defend 5

protect a lead

intransitive verb

: to provide a guard or shield

protects against tooth decay

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protectable

play \prə-ˈtek-tə-bəl\ adjective

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protective

play \prə-ˈtek-tiv\ adjective

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protectively

adverb

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protectiveness

noun

See protect defined for English-language learners

See protect defined for kids

Examples of protect in a Sentence

He had no raincoat to protect himself from the rain.
She keeps her jewelry protected in a safe.
You have to protect your business against fraud.
New laws have been passed to protect your privacy.
The forest is protected by federal law.
The high taxes on imported goods are intended to protect domestic producers.
Sunscreen helps to protect against sunburn.
The insurance protects you against flooding.
The insurance does not protect against damage caused by earthquakes.

Recent Examples of protect from the Web

Critics, among them a coalition of progressive groups that includes the League of Women Voters and ACLU, said the bundling is an organized effort to protect proposals that would not stand on their own and will mislead voters.

— mary ellen klas, miamiherald, "Voters will decide if charter schools can bypass local school board to get approval," 16 Apr. 2018
Hill argued that the only reason a judge should refuse to set bond is if there's a need to protect the community or if there's reason to believe the defendant will flee.

— ashley remkus, AL.com, "Judge sets $250K bail for driver charged in drive-by shooting death of 3-year-old," 16 Apr. 2018
Kim Custer, a preservationist involved in an eight-year effort to protect the Boxwood Hall property, said.

— kevin riordan, Philly.com, "In South Jersey, a new site sought for proposed performing arts center | Kevin Riordan," 16 Apr. 2018
Pizza Hut — citing the need to protect its drivers — requires an actual address to ward off the potential for pranks or worse.

— zlati meyer, USA TODAY, "No address? Domino's harnesses tech in pizza delivery breakthrough," 16 Apr. 2018
That charter was not designed in order to protect criminals.’’ Several diplomats at the Security Council warned of the potential danger that the Syrian crisis could spiral out of control and engulf the region and beyond.

— carol morello, BostonGlobe.com, "Haley warns that US forces ‘locked and loaded’ if Syria stages another chemical attack," 14 Apr. 2018
But the notion that an American strike would be motivated by a sincere desire to protect the Syrian people — and defend international law — is patently absurd.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "America Is About to Risk a World War to Defend the Credibility of Trump’s Tweets," 13 Apr. 2018
Based on Ryan and McConnell’s intransigence so far, it’s hard to see how Congress would take forceful action to protect Mueller under their leadership.

— matt ford, The New Republic, "Robert Mueller’s Nuclear Option," 11 Apr. 2018
Senator Pat Roberts, the Kansas Republican who is chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, told reporters that the need for aid to protect farmers in a trade war with China may be beyond the scope of the USDA’s ability to administer assistance.

— Bloomberg.com, "Zuckerberg Testifies Before Senate Panel," 10 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of protect

Middle English, from Latin protectus, past participle of protegere, from pro- in front + tegere to cover — more at pro-, thatch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

protect Synonyms

Phrases

stand up for;

Synonym Discussion of protect

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

- defend the country

protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

- a hard hat to protect your head

shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

- shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

- White House entrances are well guarded

safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

- our civil liberties must be safeguarded

PROTECT Defined for English Language Learners

protect

verb

Definition of protect for English Language Learners

: to keep (someone or something) from being harmed, lost, etc.
: to save (someone) from financial loss caused by fire, injury, damage, etc.
sports : to try to stop opponents from scoring at (your goal)

PROTECT Defined for Kids

protect

verb pro·tect \ prə-ˈtekt \

Definition of protect for Students

protected; protecting

: keep from being harmed especially by covering or shielding : guard

Law Dictionary

protect

transitive verb pro·tect

legal Definition of protect

1 : to shield from injury or harm

protecting public health and safety

2 : to secure or preserve against encroachment, infringement, restriction, or violation : maintain the status or integrity of especially through legal or constitutional guarantees