"prophylactic" in the noun sense
1. preventive, preventative, prophylactic
remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease
"the doctor recommended several preventatives"
2. condom, rubber, safety, safe, prophylactic
contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse
"prophylactic" in the adjective sense
1. contraceptive, prophylactic, antifertility
capable of preventing conception or impregnation
"contraceptive devices and medications"
2. cautionary, prophylactic
warding off
"the swastika...a very ancient prophylactic symbol occurring among all peoples"- Victor Schultze
3. preventive, preventative, prophylactic
preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease
"preventive medicine"
"vaccines are prophylactic"
"a prophylactic drug"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
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