Prophylactic
adjective
Used to prevent disease.
She is taking prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infection.
Often appears as...
- prophylactic antibiotics
- prophylactic use
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A medicine or treatment that is used to prevent disease.
The doctor prescribed a prophylactic to prevent the spread of disease.
Often appears as...
- prescribe a prophylactic
- prophylactic against disease
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A condom.
She opened the drawer and pulled out a prophylactic.
Often appears as...
- use a prophylactic
- prophylactic for safe sex
Usage tips
Neutral
Colloquial
adjective
Done to prevent something bad from happening.
The engineers took prophylactic measures to prevent the dam from failing.
Often appears as...
- prophylactic measures
- prophylactic action
adjective
Used to prevent disease.
She is taking prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infection.
Often appears as...
- prophylactic antibiotics
- prophylactic use
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A medicine or treatment that is used to prevent disease.
The doctor prescribed a prophylactic to prevent the spread of disease.
Often appears as...
- prescribe a prophylactic
- prophylactic against disease
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A condom.
She opened the drawer and pulled out a prophylactic.
Often appears as...
- use a prophylactic
- prophylactic for safe sex
Usage tips
Neutral
Colloquial
adjective
Done to prevent something bad from happening.
The engineers took prophylactic measures to prevent the dam from failing.
Often appears as...
- prophylactic measures
- prophylactic action
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Disease Prevention
Used when aiming to stop diseases before they start, particularly in medicine.
Doctors recommend prophylactic vitamins during flu season.
Pro Tip 2/3Not a Cure
It's for preventing disease, not treating it once you have symptoms.
Taking prophylactic measures now can save you trouble later.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Medicine
Can refer to any action taken in anticipation to prevent harm.
Applying sunscreen is a prophylactic approach against sunburn.
Pro Tip 1/3Disease Prevention
Used when aiming to stop diseases before they start, particularly in medicine.
Doctors recommend prophylactic vitamins during flu season.
Pro Tip 2/3Not a Cure
It's for preventing disease, not treating it once you have symptoms.
Taking prophylactic measures now can save you trouble later.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Medicine
Can refer to any action taken in anticipation to prevent harm.
Applying sunscreen is a prophylactic approach against sunburn.
Pro Tip 1/3Disease Prevention
Used when aiming to stop diseases before they start, particularly in medicine.
Doctors recommend prophylactic vitamins during flu season.
Pro Tip 2/3Not a Cure
It's for preventing disease, not treating it once you have symptoms.
Taking prophylactic measures now can save you trouble later.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Medicine
Can refer to any action taken in anticipation to prevent harm.
Applying sunscreen is a prophylactic approach against sunburn.
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Video examples
Maryn McKenna: What do...
one out of ever six would die. Next, we'd probably lose surgery. Many operations are preceded by prophylactic doses of antibiotics. Without that protection, we'd lose the ability to open the hidden spaces of the body.
Video examples
Maryn McKenna: What do...
one out of ever six would die. Next, we'd probably lose surgery. Many operations are preceded by prophylactic doses of antibiotics. Without that protection, we'd lose the ability to open the hidden spaces of the body.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
David Novak
American Theologian
The slogan 'Never Again!' that emerged after the Holocaust implies that the Holocaust has a universal moral meaning, which, if properly learned, can provide at least a theoretical prophylactic against its repetition against anyone.
Quote examples
Chelsea Clinton
American Celebrity
Running is my prophylactic stress relief for the day. Or the segue so that I can go home and be with my husband in a kind of clearheaded way.
Quote examples
Walter Lippmann
American Journalist
The study of error is not only in the highest degree prophylactic, but it serves as a stimulating introduction to the study of truth.
Quote examples
David Novak
American Theologian
The slogan 'Never Again!' that emerged after the Holocaust implies that the Holocaust has a universal moral meaning, which, if properly learned, can provide at least a theoretical prophylactic against its repetition against anyone.
Quote examples
Chelsea Clinton
American Celebrity
Running is my prophylactic stress relief for the day. Or the segue so that I can go home and be with my husband in a kind of clearheaded way.
Quote examples
Walter Lippmann
American Journalist
The study of error is not only in the highest degree prophylactic, but it serves as a stimulating introduction to the study of truth.
Example 1 of 3
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