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Condom vs Prophylactic - What's the difference?

condom | prophylactic |

As nouns the difference between condom and prophylactic

is that condom is a flexible sleeve made of latex or other impermeable material such as sheepskin, worn over an erect penis during intercourse as a contraceptive or as a way to prevent the spread of STDs while prophylactic is a medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.

As an adjective prophylactic is

serving to prevent or protect against an undesired effect, especially disease.

condom

English

(wikipedia condom)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A flexible sleeve made of latex or other impermeable material such as sheepskin, worn over an erect penis during intercourse as a contraceptive or as a way to prevent the spread of STDs.

    • Synonyms

    * dinger (Australian slang) * franger (Australian slang) * French letter (UK) * johnny (slang) * rubber (slang) * raincoat (slang) * protection (euphemism) * jimmy hat (slang) * See also

    Derived terms

    * condomize * condomless * condomlike * female condom

    See also

    * (wikipedia "condom")

    References

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    prophylactic

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
  • (US) Specifically , a prophylactic condom.
  • * 1977, Human Life Center, International Review of Natural Family Planning , Human Life Center, St. John's University (1977), p. 2,
    • It is not clear whether such education is to be directed to homosexuals (for whom prophylactics' are not a contraceptive) or to heterosexuals as well (for whom ' prophylactics are a contraceptive).
  • * 1994, Mary Louise Roberts, Civilization Without Sexes: reconstructing gender in postwar France, 1917-1927 , University of Chicago Press (1994), p. 96,
    • Given the widespread use of coitus interruptus and male prophylactics as contraceptive practices in France […]
  • * 2000, Peter Parnell and John Irving, The Cider House Rules: Here in St. Cloud's , Dramatists Play Service, Inc. (2000), p. 46,
    • Some men put the prophylactic on just the tip of the penis: this is a mistake, because the prophylactic will come off.
  • (figuratively) Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences.
  • * The securities laws are a prophylactic against stock fraud.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Serving to prevent or protect against an undesired effect, especially disease.

    • Related terms

    * prophylaxis

    Derived terms

    * prophylactically