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adjective
1.
defending or protecting from disease or infection, as a drug.
2.
preventive or protective.
noun
3.
Medicine/Medical. a prophylactic medicine or measure.
4.
a preventive.
5.
a device, usually a rubber sheath, used to prevent conception or venereal infection; condom.
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Prophylactic
is always a great word to know.
So is jugular. Does it mean:
| of or pertaining to the throat or neck. |
| the flat, movable bone at the front of the knee; kneecap. |
Origin:
1565–75; < Greek prophylaktikós of guarding, equivalent to prophylak- (base of prophylássein to guard beforehand) + -tikos -tic. See prophylaxis
1565–75; < Greek prophylaktikós of guarding, equivalent to prophylak- (base of prophylássein to guard beforehand) + -tikos -tic. See prophylaxis
Related forms
pro·phy·lac·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To prophylactic
Example Sentences
- Prophylactic antibiotics are those used to prevent diarrhea while traveling.
- In geopolitics, as in life, the best medicine is prophylactic.
- Researchers want to target this high-risk group with a prophylactic device.
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
prophylactic
1574, originally of medicines, "that tends to prevent disease," from Gk. prophylaktikos "precautionary," from prophylassein "keep guard before, ward off," from pro- "before" + phylassein, Ionic variant of phylattein "to watch over, to guard," but also "cherish, keep, remain in, preserve." The noun is
EXPANDfirst recorded 1642, "a medicine or treatment to prevent disease;" meaning "condom" is from 1943, replacing earlier preventive (1822). Condoms originally were used more to prevent the spread of disease than pregnancy.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
prophylactic pro·phy·lac·tic (prō'fə-lāk'tĭk, prŏf'ə-)
n.
A prophylactic agent, device, or measure, such as a vaccine or drug.
A contraceptive device, especially a condom.
Acting to defend against or prevent something, especially disease; protective.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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