protect

verb

pro·​tect prə-ˈtekt 

protected; protecting; protects

transitive verb

1

a

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

b

: defend sense 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 sense 5

protect a lead

intransitive verb

: to provide a guard or shield

protects against tooth decay

protectable

prə-ˈtek-tə-bəl 

adjective

protective

prə-ˈtek-tiv 

adjective

protectively adverb

protectiveness noun

Synonyms

• bulwark
• cover
• defend
• fence
• fend
• forfend
• guard
• keep
• safeguard
• screen
• secure
• shield
• ward

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Or a billionaire using his wealth and legal savvy to protect himself from responsibility for an aggressive animal? —Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024

That information stayed secret because it’s protected by Florida law from public record. —Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024

Ewing said the firm has seen some evidence that suggests the city is moving forward with the regulations to protect restaurants from nearby competition. —Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2024

National wildlife refuges must be within 25 miles of urban areas and help residents engage with nature and protect wildlife. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. —Annie Blay, Allure, 16 Apr. 2024

Those recommendations included requiring the speaker pro tem to handle subpoenas, explicit authority for the committee to investigate the speaker and a policy protecting House employees from retaliation and harassment. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024

The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, claims the pay-for-play model violates a California law aimed at protecting performers from predatory practices in Hollywood by prohibiting the charging of fees for the submission of headshots, reels or additional audition materials. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024

However Botswana, and other conservationists, argue the activity can help revive animal populations, helping to fund communities, deter poachers and protect biodiversity. —Emma Ogao, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing protect

• protect one's ass

Kids Definition

protect

verb

pro·​tect prə-ˈtekt 

: to cover or shield from something that would destroy or injure : guard

Legal Definition

protect

transitive verb

pro·​tect

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

protect a work against copyright infringement

the First Amendment protects speech

3

: to restrict competition for (as domestic industries) by means of tariffs or trade controls

protectable adjective

or protectible