prophylactic: Meaning and Definition of

pro•phy•lac•tic

Pronunciation: (prō"fu-lak'tik, prof"u-), [key]
— adj.
  1. defending or protecting from disease or infection, as a drug.
  2. preventive or protective.
—n.
  1. a prophylactic medicine or measure.
  2. a preventive.
  3. a device, usually a rubber sheath, used to prevent conception or venereal infection; condom.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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