prophylactic

About 2.02 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive. A prophylactic condom.
2. noun A prophylactic condom.
3. noun Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences.

   The securities laws are a prophylactic against stock fraud.

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

Similar words

contraceptive antifertility condom rubber protective preventive healthful preventative safety cautionary

Often followed by

antibiotics treatment measures use measure and against therapy antibiotic

Word family

prophylactically prophylactics