prophylactic

pro·phy·lac·tic

P0600700 (prō′fə-lăk′tĭk, prŏf′ə-)adj. Acting to defend against or prevent something, especially disease; protective.n.1. A prophylactic agent, device, or measure, such as a vaccine or drug.2. A contraceptive device, especially a condom.

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[French prophylactique, from Greek prophulaktikos, from prophulassein, to take precautions against : pro-, before; see pro-² + phulassein, to protect (from phulax, guard).]

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pro′phy·lac′ti·cal·ly adv.

prophylactic

(ˌprɒfɪˈlæktɪk) adj1. (Medicine) protecting from or preventing disease2. protective or preventiven (Medicine) a prophylactic drug or device, esp a condom[C16: via French from Greek prophulaktikos, from prophulassein to guard by taking advance measures, from pro-² + phulax a guard]

pro•phy•lac•tic

(ˌproʊ fəˈlæk tɪk, ˌprɒf ə-)

adj. 1. preventive or protective, esp. from disease or infection. n. 2. a prophylactic medicine or measure. 3. a preventive. 4. a device used to prevent conception or venereal infection, esp. a condom. [1565–75; < Greek prophylaktikós=prophylak-, base of prophylássein to be on guard, take precautions] pro`phy•lac′ti•cal•ly, adv.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	prophylactic - remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease; "the doctor recommended several preventatives"preventative, preventivecurative, cure, therapeutic, remedy - a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain
	2.	prophylactic - contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercoursecondom, safe, rubber, safetybirth control device, contraceptive, contraceptive device, prophylactic device, preventative, preventive - an agent or device intended to prevent conception
Adj.	1.	prophylactic - capable of preventing conception or impregnation; "contraceptive devices and medications"antifertility, contraceptiveprotective - intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind; "a protective covering"; "the use of protective masks and equipment"; "protective coatings"; "kept the drunken sailor in protective custody"; "animals with protective coloring"; "protective tariffs"
	2.	prophylactic - warding off; "the swastika...a very ancient prophylactic symbol occurring among all peoples"- Victor Schultzecautionaryprotective - intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind; "a protective covering"; "the use of protective masks and equipment"; "protective coatings"; "kept the drunken sailor in protective custody"; "animals with protective coloring"; "protective tariffs"
	3.	prophylactic - preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease; "preventive medicine"; "vaccines are prophylactic"; "a prophylactic drug"preventive, preventativehealthful - conducive to good health of body or mind; "a healthful climate"; "a healthful environment"; "healthful nutrition"; "healthful sleep"; "Dickens's relatively healthful exuberance"

prophylactic

adjective1. preventative, protective, preventive, precautionary vaccination and other prophylactic measuresnoun1. preventative measure, safeguard, precaution, safety measure, preventative medicine The region began to use quinine as a prophylactic.2. condom, johnny (informal), rubber (U.S.), sheath, Durex (Brit. trademark), Femidom (Brit. trademark), something for the weekend (informal) the use of prophylactics for protection against sexually-transmitted disease

prophylactic

adjectiveDefending against disease:preventative, preventive, protective.

Translations

prophylaktischcapotepréservatifprophylactiqueprofilattico