Prophylactic vs Precautionary - What's the difference?
prophylactic | precautionary |
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,
* 1994, Mary Louise Roberts, Civilization Without Sexes: reconstructing gender in postwar France, 1917-1927 , University of Chicago Press (1994), p. 96,
* 2000, Peter Parnell and John Irving, The Cider House Rules: Here in St. Cloud's , Dramatists Play Service, Inc. (2000), p. 46,
(figuratively) Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences.
* The securities laws are a prophylactic against stock fraud.
Serving to prevent or protect against an undesired effect, especially disease.
Of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution
(obsolete) A precaution.
* 1748 , Samuel Richardson, Clarissa
As nouns the difference between prophylactic and precautionary
is that prophylactic is a medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive while precautionary is (obsolete) a precaution.As adjectives the difference between prophylactic and precautionary
is that prophylactic is serving to prevent or protect against an undesired effect, especially disease while precautionary is of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution.prophylactic
English
Noun
(en noun)- 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).
- Given the widespread use of coitus interruptus and male prophylactics as contraceptive practices in France […]
- Some men put the prophylactic on just the tip of the penis: this is a mistake, because the prophylactic will come off.
Adjective
(en adjective)Derived terms
* prophylacticallyprecautionary
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- The article 3.3 of the states the precautionary principle .
Noun
(precautionaries)- Thou seest, Belford, by the above precautionaries , that I forget nothing.