different between prevention vs prophylactic

English

Etymology

prevent +? -ion. Compare French prévention.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p???v?n??n/

Noun

prevention (countable and uncountable, plural preventions)

1. The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting.

   a fire prevention campaign

   • c. 1599, William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene 1,^[1]

     Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.

   • 1672, Robert South, Sermon Preached at Christ-Church, Oxon. before the University, in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, London: Thomas Bennet, Volume 3, p. 222,^[2]

     But no Man Pities another for any Evil lying upon Him, which he would not help, but which he could not. One is his Burden, the other his Choice; Vertually at least, since he might have Chosen its Prevention.

   • 1982, Ronald Reagan, Presidential Radio Address - 2 October 1982

     In the next few days we'll announce the administration's new strategy for the prevention of drug abuse and drug trafficking.

2. (medicine) Any measure intended to limit health-related risks (such as information campaigns, vaccination, early diagnosis etc.).
   • 1933, David Marshall Brooks, The Necessity of Atheism

     Whatever cures are known, and preventions that are practiced now, could have been common knowledge centuries ago.

3. (obsolete) The act of going, or state of being, before.
   • 1627, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or A Naturall Historie, London: William Lee, III. Century, p. 59,^[3]

     It is generally knowne and obserued, that Light, and the Obiect of Sight, moue swifter than Sound; For we see the Flash of a Peece [i.e. firearm] is seene sooner, than the Noise is heard. […] And the greater the Distance, the greater is the Preuention: As we see in Thunder, which is farre off; where the Lightning Precedeth the Cracke a good space.

4. (obsolete) Anticipation; especially, anticipation of needs, wishes, hazards and risks
   • c. 1590, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 2, Act II, Scene 4,^[4]

     [Suffolk, York and Beaufort]

     Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings,

     And, fly thou how thou canst, they’ll tangle thee:

     But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared,

     Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

5. precaution; forethought.
   • 1659, Henry Hammond, A Paraphrase and Annotations upon All the Books of the New Testament, London: Richard Davis, The Gospel according to S. LUKE, Chapter 14, verse 3, p. 238,^[5]

     And Jesus […] by way of prevention asked a question of the Doctors of the law and Pharisees that were present, saying, Is the working of a cure on a sick man a thing forbidden, and so unlawfull to be done upon a sabbath day?

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

• pervention, provenient

Finnish

Noun

prevention

1. Genitive singular form of preventio.

English

Etymology

From Latin, from Ancient Greek ??? (pró, “before”) + ??????? (phúlaxis, “a watching, guarding”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p??f??lækt?k/
• Hyphenation: pro?phy?lac?tic
• Rhymes: -ækt?k

Noun

prophylactic (plural prophylactics)

1. A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
   1. (US, specifically) A prophylactic condom.
      • 1977, Human Life Center, International Review of Natural Family Planning, Human Life Center, St. John's University, page 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, page 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., page 46:

        Some men put the prophylactic on just the tip of the penis: this is a mistake, because the prophylactic will come off.

2. (figuratively) Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences.

Translations

Adjective

prophylactic (comparative more prophylactic, superlative most prophylactic)

1. Serving to prevent or protect against an undesired effect, especially disease or pregnancy

Translations

Derived terms

• prophylactically

Related terms

• prophylaxis

Interlingua

Adjective

prophylactic (not comparable)

1. prophylactic, preventive