prophylactic

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​phy·​lac·​tic ˌprō-fə-ˈlak-tik How to pronounce prophylactic (audio)
also
ˌprä- How to pronounce prophylactic (audio)
1
: guarding from or preventing the spread or occurrence of disease or infection
2
: tending to prevent or ward off : preventive
prophylactically adverb

prophylactic

2 of 2

noun

: something prophylactic
especially : a device and especially a condom for preventing venereal infection or conception

Examples of prophylactic in a Sentence

Adjective the prophylactic use of antibiotics the many prophylactic measures that city officials could have taken to reduce the scope of the disaster
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
One cohort took prophylactic crofelemer 125 mg BID and loperamide in the first 2 cycles, and as needed in the subsequent cycles. Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024 Think of it as a kind of prophylactic content moderation. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023 Prevention of malaria in these circumstances is far more effective through public health measures (such as the measures taken for travelers heading to malaria-endemic countries) than from prophylactic medicine. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 9 Aug. 2023 Jolie had a prophylactic mastectomy as well as a prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy. Mikayla Morell, Health, 15 Feb. 2023 In addition, any prophylactic antibody therapy for people in high-risk settings like nursing homes would have to be taken regularly, an expensive and less efficient method than using a vaccine to prompt a person’s immune system into building its own antibodies. Cynthia Dizikes, SFChronicle.com, 11 June 2020 The best prevention remains bed nets and prophylactic anti-malarial drugs. Breanna Draxler, Discover Magazine, 8 Aug. 2013 Some people may also choose to proceed with breast tissue removal, with a surgery called a prophylactic mastectomy. Amy Comander Md, Anchorage Daily News, 8 May 2023 Preventative Surgery for Breast Cancer A prophylactic mastectomy is when a surgeon removes one or both breasts to prevent breast cancer. Mikayla Morell, Health, 15 Feb. 2023
Noun
To keep it that way, doctors put Debra on tamoxifen, a hormonal drug used as a prophylactic against certain types of breast cancer. Longreads, 4 Jan. 2024 Research is indeed mixed as to whether baby aspirin has any benefits as a prophylactic, though there’s a clear benefit for individuals who’ve had a heart attack, stroke, or some other form of heart disease. Sean Evans, Robb Report, 14 Jan. 2024 Demand for the prophylactic has been off the charts, resulting in shortages and rationing. Allysia Finley, WSJ, 26 Nov. 2023 In 1660s England, tobacco fumigation (in this case of the lungs) was believed to be a prophylactic against the plague. Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza, Discover Magazine, 9 Oct. 2023 The drugs came to be used not only as a treatment but also as a prophylactic for those at risk of getting infected. Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 23 July 2023 Sanctions, once a wartime action, were seen as a tool that could be used as a threat and thus a prophylactic to war itself. Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein, The New Republic, 13 Dec. 2022 Hence the prophylactic of hope. Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 2 Mar. 2021 As background, there's been a used prophylactic on the street in front of our house for weeks that the street sweeper somehow keeps missing. Judith Martin, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prophylactic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin prophylacticus, borrowed from Greek prophylaktikós, from prophylakt-, stem in nominal derivation of prophylássein "to keep guard before a place, be on guard, (middle voice) to be on one's guard against, take precautions against" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at prophylaxis

Noun

borrowed from Late Latin prophylacticon "protective measure against disease," borrowed from Late Greek prophylaktikón, noun derivative from neuter of Greek prophylaktikós prophylactic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1641, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prophylactic was in 1574

Dictionary Entries Near prophylactic

Cite this Entry

“Prophylactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prophylactic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prophylactic

1 of 2 adjective
pro·​phy·​lac·​tic ˌprō-fə-ˈlak-tik How to pronounce prophylactic (audio)
1
: guarding from or preventing the spread or occurrence of disease or infection
2
: tending to prevent or ward off

prophylactic

2 of 2 noun
: something prophylactic
especially : a device and especially a condom for preventing infection or pregnancy

Medical Definition

prophylactic

1 of 2 adjective
pro·​phy·​lac·​tic
ˌprō-fə-ˈlak-tik also ˌpräf-ə-
1
: guarding from or preventing the spread or occurrence of disease or infection
prophylactic therapy
2
: tending to prevent or ward off : preventive
prophylactically adverb

prophylactic

2 of 2 noun
: something (as a medicinal preparation) that is prophylactic
especially : a device and especially a condom for preventing venereal infection or conception

Legal Definition

prophylactic

adjective
pro·​phy·​lac·​tic ˌprō-fə-ˈlak-tik, ˌprä- How to pronounce prophylactic (audio)
: designed or tending to prevent harm or wrong
a prophylactic rule against profiting from inside information

More from Merriam-Webster on prophylactic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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