prophylactic

/ˌproʊfəˈlæktɪk/
adjective
  1. Intended to prevent disease or infection.
    • The dentist applied a prophylactic fluoride treatment to protect the child's teeth from cavities.
    • The doctor recommended a prophylactic vaccine before traveling to the tropical region.
    • Washing your hands regularly is a simple prophylactic measure against many illnesses.
  2. Serving to prevent something undesirable from happening.
    • Regular maintenance is a prophylactic step to avoid major car repairs later.
    • The company introduced prophylactic security measures to prevent data breaches.
    • The new law was designed as a prophylactic against financial fraud.
noun
  1. A medicine or device used to prevent disease, especially a condom.
    • Many health clinics provide free prophylactics to help prevent the spread of infections.
    • He bought a pack of prophylactics at the pharmacy before his trip.
    • The nurse explained the proper use of prophylactics during the health education session.
  2. Something that prevents an undesirable outcome.
    • A good night's sleep can be a prophylactic against stress and burnout.
    • Learning to budget is a financial prophylactic against debt.
    • The fence acted as a prophylactic, keeping deer out of the garden.
Synonyms
What does "prophylactic" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean