Remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease.

synonyms: preventative, preventive.

Roget 706: prevention, preclusion, obstruction, stoppage; embolus, embolism [Med.]; infarct [Med.]; interruption, interception, interclusion^†; hindrance, impedition^†; retardment^†, retardation; embarrassment, oppilation^†; coarctation^†, stricture, restriction; restraint etc. 751; inhibition etc. 761; blockade etc. (closure) 261.    interference, interposition; obtrusion; discouragement, discountenance.    impediment, let, obstacle, obstruction, knot, knag^†; check, hitch, contretemps, screw loose, grit in the oil.    bar, stile, barrier; [barrier to vehicles] turnstile, turnpike; gate, portcullis.    beaver dam; trocha^†; barricade etc. (defense) 717; wall, dead wall, sea wall, levee breakwater, groyne^†; bulkhead, block, buffer; stopper etc. 263; boom, dam, weir, burrock^†.    drawback, objection; stumbling-block, stumbling-stone; lion in the path, snag; snags and sawyers.    encumbrance, incumbrance^†; clog, skid, shoe, spoke; drag, drag chain, drag weight; stay, stop; preventive, prophylactic; load, burden, fardel^†, onus, millstone round one's neck, impedimenta; dead weight; lumber, pack; nightmare, Ephialtes^†, incubus, old man of the sea; remora.    difficulty etc. 704; insuperable etc. 471; obstacle; estoppel [Law]; ill wind; head wind etc. (opposition) 708; trammel, tether etc. (means of restraint) 752; hold back, counterpoise.    [person who hinders] damper, wet blanket, hinderer, marplot, killjoy; party pooper [Coll.]; party crasher, interloper.    trail of a red herring; opponent etc. 710.    ... show more

Roget 662: remedy, help, cure, redress; medicine, medicament; diagnosis, medical examination; medical treatment; surgery; preventive medicine.    [medical devices] clinical thermometer, stethoscope, X-ray machine.    anthelmintic [Med.]; antidote, antifebrile [Med.], antipoison^†, counterpoison^†, antitoxin, antispasmodic; bracer, faith cure, placebo; helminthagogue^†, lithagogue^†, pick-meup, stimulant, tonic; vermifuge, prophylactic, corrective, restorative; sedative etc. 174; palliative; febrifuge; alterant^†, alterative; specific; antiseptic, emetic, analgesic, pain-killer, antitussive [Med.], antiinflammatory [Med.], antibiotic, antiviral [Med.], antifungal [Med.], carminative; Nepenthe, Mithridate.    cure, treatment, regimen; radical cure, perfect cure, certain cure; sovereign remedy.    examination, diagnosis, diagnostics; analysis, urinalysis, biopsy, radiology.    medicine, physic, Galenicals^†, simples, drug, pharmaceutical, prescription, potion, draught, dose, pill, bolus, injection, infusion, drip, suppository, electuary^†; linctus^†, lincture^†; medicament; pharmacon^†.    nostrum, receipt, recipe, prescription; catholicon^†, panacea, elixir, elixir vitae, philosopher's stone; balm, balsam, cordial, theriac^†, ptisan^†.    agueweed^†, arnica, benzoin, bitartrate of potash, boneset^†, calomel, catnip, cinchona, cream of tartar, Epsom salts [Chem]; feverroot^†, feverwort; friar's balsam, Indian sage; ipecac, ipecacuanha; jonquil, mercurous chloride, Peruvian bark; quinine, quinquina^†; sassafras, yarrow.    salve, ointment, cerate, oil, lenitive, lotion, cosmetic; plaster; epithem^†, embrocation^†, liniment, cataplasm^†, sinapism^†, arquebusade^†, traumatic, vulnerary, pepastic^†, poultice, collyrium^†, depilatory; emplastrum^†; eyewater^†, vesicant, vesicatory [Med.].    compress, pledget^†; bandage etc. (support) 215.    treatment, medical treatment, regimen; dietary, dietetics; vis medicatrix^†, vis medicatrix naturae [Lat.]; medecine expectante [Fr.]; bloodletting, bleeding, venesection [Med.], phlebotomy, cupping, sanguisae, leeches; operation, surgical operation; transfusion, infusion, intravenous infusion, catheter, feeding tube; prevention, preventative medicine, immunization, inoculation, vaccination, vaccine, shot, booster, gamma globulin.    pharmacy, pharmacology, pharmaceutics; pharmacopoeia, formulary; acology^†, Materia Medica [Lat.], therapeutics, posology^†; homeopathy, allopathy^†, heteropathy [Med.], osteopathy, hydropathy [Med.]; cold water cure; dietetics; surgery, chirurgery [Med.], chirurgy^†; healing art, leechcraft^†; orthopedics, orthopedy^†, orthopraxy^†; pediatrics; dentistry, midwifery, obstetrics, gynecology; tocology^†; sarcology^†.    hospital, infirmary; pesthouse^†, lazarhouse^†; lazaretto; lock hospital; maison de sante [Fr.]; ambulance.    dispensary; dispensatory^†, drug store, pharmacy, apothecary, druggist, chemist.    Hotel des Invalides; sanatorium, spa, pump room, well; hospice; Red Cross.    doctor, physician, surgeon; medical practitioner, general practitioner, specialist; medical attendant, apothecary, druggist; leech; osteopath, osteopathist^†; optometrist, ophthalmologist; internist, oncologist, gastroenterologist; epidemiologist [Med.], public health specialist; dermatologist; podiatrist; witch doctor, shaman, faith healer, quack, exorcist; Aesculapius^†, Hippocrates, Galen; accoucheur [Fr.], accoucheuse [Fr.], midwife, oculist, aurist^†; operator; nurse, registered nurse, practical nurse, monthly nurse, sister; nurse's aide, candystriper; dresser; bonesetter; pharmaceutist^†, pharmacist, druggist, chemist, pharmacopolist^†.    ... show more

Dutch: profilax, profylacticum

Contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse.

synonyms: condom, rubber, safe, safety.

Dutch: rubbertje, ballon, condoom, kapotje, overjas, sok

Capable of preventing conception or impregnation.

synonyms: antifertility, contraceptive.

Roget 706: hindering etc. v.; obstructive, obstruent^†; impeditive^†, impedient^†; intercipient^†; prophylactic etc. (remedial) 662; impedimentary.    in the way of, unfavorable; onerous, burdensome; cumbrous, cumbersome; obtrusive.    hindered etc. v.; windbound^†, waterlogged, heavy laden; hard pressed.    unassisted etc. (assist) etc. 707; single-handed, alone; deserted etc. 624.    ... show more

Roget 670: preserving etc. v.; conservative; prophylactic; preservatory^†, preservative; hygienic.    preserved etc. v.; unimpaired, unbroken, uninjured, unhurt, unsinged^†, unmarred; safe, safe and sound; intact, with a whole skin.    ... show more

Polish: antykoncepcyjny

Warding off:
— The swastika...a very ancient prophylactic symbol occurring among all peoples.

synonym: cautionary.

Preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease:
— Vaccines are prophylactic.
— A prophylactic drug.

synonyms: preventative, preventive.

Roget 662: remedial; restorative etc. 660; corrective, palliative, healing; sanatory^†, sanative; prophylactic, preventative, immunizing; salutiferous etc. (salutary) 656^†; medical, medicinal; therapeutic, chirurgical [Med.], epulotic^†, paregoric, tonic, corroborant, analeptic^†, balsamic, anodyne, hypnotic, neurotic, narcotic, sedative, lenitive, demulcent^†, emollient; depuratory^†; detersive^†, detergent; abstersive^†, disinfectant, febrifugal^†, alterative; traumatic, vulnerary.    allopathic^†, heteropathic^†, homeopathic, hydropathic [Med.]; anthelmintic [Med.]; antifebrile [Med.], antiluetic^†; aperient^†, chalybeate^†, deobstruent^†, depurative^†, laxative, roborant^†.    dietetic, alimentary; nutritious, nutritive; peptic; alexipharmic^†, alexiteric^†; remediable, curable.    ... show more

Polish: profilaktyczny