prophylactic
A medicine which preserves or defends against diseaseA medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
Recorded: Commander Keane, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Translations
1 languagesMeaning
3 sensesA medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
(figuratively)Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences.
The securities laws are a prophylactic against stock fraud.
A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
(US, specifically)A prophylactic condom.
- remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease
- contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse
Origin
From Latin prophylacticus, from Ancient Greek προφυλακτικός (prophulaktikós, “prophylacticFrom Latin prophylacticus, from Ancient Greek προφυλακτικός (prophulaktikós, “prophylactic”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: prophylactics| Singular | prophylactic |
|---|---|
| Plural | prophylactics |
regular
Synonyms
6 synonymsSee also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.