prophylactic

(prō′fə laktik)

adjective

preventive or protective; esp., preventing or guarding against disease

Origin: Gr prophylaktikos < prophylassein, to be on guard < pro-, before (see pro-) + phylassein, to guard < phylax, guard

noun

  1. a prophylactic medicine, device, treatment, etc.
  2. ☆ a condom

See prophylactic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
Acting to defend against or prevent something, especially disease; protective.
noun
  1. A prophylactic agent, device, or measure, such as a vaccine or drug.
  2. A contraceptive device, especially a condom.

Origin:

Origin: French prophylactique

Origin: , from Greek prophulaktikos

Origin: , from prophulassein, to take precautions against

Origin: : pro-, before; see pro-2

Origin: + phulassein, to protect (from phulax, guard)

.

Related Forms:

  • proˌphy·lacˈti·cal·ly adverb

Learn more about prophylactic

link/cite print suggestion box