prophylactic

From Latin, from Ancient Greek πρό (pró, “before”) + φύλαξις (phúlaxis, “a watching, guarding”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pɹɒfəˈlæktɪk/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: pro‧phy‧lac‧tic
• Rhymes: -æktɪk

prophylactic (plural prophylactics)

1. A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
   1. (US, specifically) A prophylactic condom.

      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:condom

      • 1977, Human Life Center, International Review of Natural Family Planning, Human Life Center, St. John's University, page 2:

        It is not clear whether such education is to be directed to homosexuals (for whom prophylactics are not a contraceptive) or to heterosexuals as well (for whom prophylactics are a contraceptive).

      • 1994, Mary Louise Roberts, Civilization Without Sexes: Reconstructing Gender in Postwar France, 1917–1927, University of Chicago Press, page 96:

        Given the widespread use of coitus interruptus and male prophylactics as contraceptive practices in France […]

      • 2000, Peter Parnell, John Irving, The Cider House Rules: Here in St. Cloud's, Dramatists Play Service, Inc., page 46:

        Some men put the prophylactic on just the tip of the penis: this is a mistake, because the prophylactic will come off.

2. (figuratively) Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences.
   • 1984 December 8, Robert Halfhill, “Pornography, Free Speech and Gay Separatism”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 21, page 5:

     Since tere are increasingly powerful anti-free speech tendencies in the left in general and in the Lesbian and Gay movements in particular in the form of the antiporn movement and other tendencies, I will quote extensively from the second chapter of On Liberty, "On The Liberty Of Thought And Discussion," as a valuable and much needed prophylactic to these trends.

   The securities laws are a prophylactic against stock fraud.

prophylactic (comparative more prophylactic, superlative most prophylactic)

1. Serving to prevent or protect against an undesired effect, especially disease or pregnancy

• preventative

• prophylactic rule
• prophylactically

• prophylaxis

prophylactic (not comparable)

1. prophylactic, preventive