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Prophylaxis vs Prophylactic - What's the difference?

prophylaxis | prophylactic | Derived terms |

Prophylactic is a related term of prophylaxis.

Prophylactic is a derived term of prophylaxis.



As nouns the difference between prophylaxis and prophylactic

is that prophylaxis is prevention of, or protective treatment for disease 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.

prophylaxis

Noun

(prophylaxes)
  • (medicine) Prevention of, or protective treatment for disease.
  • (chess) A move or strategy that frustrates an opponent's plan or tactic.
  • Derived terms

    * prophylactic

    References

    *

    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.
  • Derived terms

    * prophylactically