prophylaxis
noun/pɹɔfɪˈlæksɪs/
Etymology From Latin, from Ancient Greek πρό (pró, “before”) + φύλαξις (phúlaxis, “a watching, guarding”).
1
Medicine, Sciences The prevention of, or the protective treatment for, disease.
- The role of statins in prophylaxis for cardiovascular disease is well supported by the medical literature.
2
Medicine, Sciences Sometimes, Specifically The cleaning of a patient's teeth.
- We did his semiannual prophylaxis today, and his teeth and gums were found to be healthy.
3
Medicine, Sciences Sometimes, Specifically Protective measures against acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.
4
Broadly Action that works to prevent some bad outcome.
- The central bankers viewed these moves as prophylaxis against inflation.
5
Board games, Chess, Games Broadly A move or strategy that frustrates an opponent's plan or tactic.
- Derived terms
- chemoprophylaxis, fluoroprophylaxis, homeoprophylaxis, immunoprophylaxis, metaprophylaxis, monoprophylaxis, pharmacoprophylaxis, post-exposure prophylaxis, postprophylaxis, pre-exposure prophylaxis, preprophylaxis, propho, prophylactic, prophylaxed, psychoprophylaxis, seroprophylaxis, thromboprophylaxis, zooprophylaxis
- Related terms
- prophylactic