All words
word

prophylaxis

pro-fuh-LAK-sis

ˌproʊfəˈlæksɪs

Listen

Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.

Syllable breakdown

prophylaxis

Dictionary meaning

Preventive treatment intended to stop a disease before it occurs.

History and origin

Greek prophylassein (to guard against).

Examples

  • Antibiotic prophylaxis is used before certain surgical procedures.

Learn one new pronunciation a day

Get a word, name or idiom like “prophylaxis” in your inbox — daily or weekly, free. Unsubscribe any time.

Something wrong? Suggest a correction