Prophylactic

A preventive measure. The word comes from the Greek for "an advance guard," an apt term for a measure taken to fend off a disease or another unwanted consequence. A prophylactic is a medication or a treatment designed and used to prevent a disease from occurring. For example, prophylactic antibiotics may be used after a bout of rheumatic fever to prevent the subsequent development of Sydenham’s chorea. A prophylactic is also a drug or device, particularly a condom, for preventing pregnancy.

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1. Preventing disease; relating to prophylaxis. SYN: preventive. 2. An agent that acts to prevent a disease. [G. prophylaktikos; see prophylaxis]

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pro·phy·lac·tic .prō-fə-'lak-tikalso .präf-ə- adj

1) guarding from or preventing the spread or occurrence of disease or infection <\prophylactic therapy>

2) tending to prevent or ward off: PREVENTIVE

pro·phy·lac·ti·cal·ly -ti-k(ə-)lē adv

prophylactic n something (as a medicinal preparation) that is prophylactic esp a device and esp. a condom for preventing venereal infection or conception

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n.

an agent that prevents the development of a condition or disease. An example is glyceryl trinitrate, which is used to prevent attacks of angina.

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pro·phy·lac·tic (pro″fə-lakґtik) [Gr. prophylaktikos] 1. tending to ward off or prevent something, particularly disease. 2. pertaining to prophylaxis. 3. an agent that tends to ward off disease. 4. a device for preventing sexually transmitted disease and/or conception, particularly a condom.