English Explanatory Dictionary

prophylactic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
  2. A prophylactic condom.
  3. Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences.
adj
  1. Serving to prevent or protect against an undesired effect, especially disease or pregnancy.

Pronunciation

/pɹɒfəˈlæktɪk/ en-au-prophylactic.ogg

Word forms

prophylactic prophylactics more prophylactic most prophylactic

Etymology

From Latin prophylacticus, from Ancient Greek προφυλακτικός (prophulaktikós, “prophylactic”).

Synonyms

condom cum catcher rubber preventative

Related words

prophylaxis

Derived words

chemoprophylactic immunoprophylactic metaprophylactic nonprophylactic pharmacoprophylactic prophylactically prophylactic rule psychoprophylactic zooprophylactic

Translations

Bulgarian: профилактика Catalan: profilàctic Finnish: ennalta ehkäisevä lääke Finnish: profylaksi Finnish: ehkäisyväline Greek: προφυλακτικό Indonesian: profilaksis Irish: urchosc Polish: środek profilaktyczny Polish: środek zapobiegawczy
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