| English Dictionary |
PROPHYLACTIC
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| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does prophylactic mean?
• PROPHYLACTIC (noun)
The noun PROPHYLACTIC has 2 senses:
1. remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease
2. contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse
Familiarity information: PROPHYLACTIC used as a noun is rare.
• PROPHYLACTIC (adjective)
The adjective PROPHYLACTIC has 3 senses:
1. capable of preventing conception or impregnation
2. warding off
3. preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease
Familiarity information: PROPHYLACTIC used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
preventative; preventive; prophylactic
Context example:
the doctor recommended several preventatives
Hypernyms ("prophylactic" is a kind of...):
curative; cure; remedy; therapeutic (a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain)
Derivation:
prophylactic (preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
condom; prophylactic; rubber; safe; safety
Hypernyms ("prophylactic" is a kind of...):
birth control device; contraceptive; contraceptive device; preventative; preventive; prophylactic device (an agent or device intended to prevent conception)
Derivation:
prophylactic (capable of preventing conception or impregnation)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Capable of preventing conception or impregnation
Synonyms:
antifertility; contraceptive; prophylactic
Context example:
contraceptive devices and medications
Similar:
protective (intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind)
Derivation:
prophylactic (contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Warding off
Synonyms:
cautionary; prophylactic
Context example:
the swastika...a very ancient prophylactic symbol occurring among all peoples
Similar:
protective (intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease
Synonyms:
preventative; preventive; prophylactic
Context example:
a prophylactic drug
Similar:
healthful (conducive to good health of body or mind)
Derivation:
prophylactic (remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease)
prophylaxis (the prevention of disease)
Context examples
A humanized monoclonal antibody against the fusion protein (F protein) of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with prophylactic application in respiratory syncytial virus infections.
(Palivizumab, NCI Thesaurus)
It is a type of anticonvulsant, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, antimaniacal, migraine headache prophylactic, and antiangiogenesis agent.
(Depakene, NCI Dictionary)
Upon prophylactic administration, this vaccine may stimulate specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and antibody responses against EBV-transformed B cells, thereby preventing an EBV-induced post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder.
(Autologous Epstein-Barr Virus-Transformed B-Lymphoblastoid Cell Vaccine, NCI Thesaurus)
We are testing if we can develop drugs that block plasmepsin V not just in blood and gametocyte stages but also during liver infection as a prophylactic, Boddey tells.
(New way to stop falciparum malaria transmission, SciDev.Net)
A skin spray composed of Evaux thermal spring water, the emulsifier polysorbate 20, the preservatives phenoxyethanol and chlorphenesin, zinc gluconate, and the moisturizer caprylyl glycol with prophylactic and calming activity.
(Evaux Spring Water-based Topical Spray, NCI Thesaurus)
NIH Emphasis Area — The term "prevention" refers to prophylactic and preventative efforts to achieve a significant reduction in cancer incidence, cancer mortality, and cancer morbidity.
(Cancer Prevention, Primary, NCI Thesaurus)
It is indicated for patients with periodontal disease and is therapeutic, not prophylactic, in nature.
(Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing, NCI Thesaurus)
A public health activity whereby individuals who have been exposed to a person with a suspected or confirmed contagious illness are identified, usually for the purpose of identifying additional cases of the illness, or to offer some form of prophylactic intervention to either prevent or ameliorate disease in the exposed individual.
(Disease Contact Investigation, NCI Thesaurus)
The detailed planning of studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects.
(Clinical Trials Design, NCI Thesaurus)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"Do not hide like the mouse behind the pot." (Albanian proverb)
"When you are dead, your sister's tears will dry as time goes on, your widow's tears will cease in another's arms, but your mother will mourn you until she dies." (Arabic proverb)
"The pen is mightier than the sword." (Dutch proverb)