Protection

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pɹəˈtÉ›kʃən/
• Rhymes: -É›kʃən

Origin

Middle English, from Old French, from stem of Latin protectio ("a covering over"), from protectus, past participle of protegere ("to protect, to cover in front")

Full definition of protection

Noun

1. The process of keeping (something or someone) safe.
   Raincoats give protection from rain.
• 1879, Richard Jefferies, The Amateur Poacher Chapter 1, But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder.
2. The state of being safe.
3. A means of keeping or remaining safe.
4. A means, such as a condom, of preventing pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease.
5. (insurance) Coverage.
6. Immunity from harm obtained by illegal payments, as bribery or extortion.
7. (economics) Restrictions on foreign competitors which limit their ability to compete with domestic producers of goods or services.
8. (computing) An instance of a security token associated with a resource (such as a file.)

Derived terms

Related terms

• protect