What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Proactive vs Prophylactic - What's the difference?

proactive | prophylactic |

As adjectives the difference between proactive and prophylactic

is that proactive is acting in advance to deal with an expected change or difficulty while prophylactic is serving to prevent or protect against an undesired effect, especially disease.

As a noun prophylactic is

a medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.

proactive

English

(wikipedia proactive)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Acting in advance to deal with an expected change or difficulty
    • We can deal with each problem as it pops up, or we can take a proactive stance and try to prevent future problems.

    Usage notes

    Some consider proactive to be a buzzword, and it is associated with business-speak.The good grammar guide, by Richard Palmer, 2003, p. 157 Depending on use, alternatives include active, or “show initiative” instead of “be proactive ”.

    Synonyms

    * anticipatory * forward-looking

    Antonyms

    * reactive

    Derived terms

    * proactively * proactivity * proactiveness

    Related terms

    * proact * proactor

    References

    * The Word Detective, Issue of February 5, 2001 ----

    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