prophylactic

noun

No English definition recorded for this entry.

Pronunciation: /pɹɒfəˈlæktɪk/

Etymology: From Latin prophylacticus, from Ancient Greek προφυλακτικός (prophulaktikós, “prophylactic”).

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

Etymology: From Latin prophylacticus, from Ancient Greek προφυλακτικός (prophulaktikós, “prophylactic”).

A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
“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).”
“Given the widespread use of coitus interruptus and male prophylactics as contraceptive practices in France […]”
Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences.
“The securities laws are a prophylactic against stock fraud.”
“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.”