# protection

Pronunciation: say "pruh-TEK-shuhn" /pɹəˈtɛkʃn̩/

## Noun

1. The act of keeping someone or something safe from harm, or the state of being kept safe.
   - Simple: Keeping someone or something safe, or being safe from harm.
   - _The agency oversees the protection of endangered species across the region._
   - _Witness protection requires constant vigilance from federal agents._
2. Something that serves as a means of keeping someone or something safe.
   - Simple: Something that keeps a person or thing safe from harm.
   - _A sturdy lock is your first protection against burglars._
   - _Sunscreen is essential protection for anyone spending the day outdoors._
3. A condom or other method that guards against pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection.
   - Simple: Something, such as a condom, used to stop pregnancy or disease during sex.
   - _The nurse stressed the importance of using protection every time._
   - _He kept protection in his wallet just in case._
4. The coverage an insurance policy provides against specified losses or risks.
   - Simple: The financial help an insurance policy provides for losses or risks it covers.
   - _The policy includes protection against fire, theft, and water damage._
   - _Homeowners often add extra protection for valuable jewelry._
5. Immunity from harm obtained by making illegal payments, such as bribes or money paid under extortion.
   - Simple: Safety from harm that a criminal sells in return for money.
   - _Local merchants paid the syndicate for protection against vandalism the syndicate itself threatened._
   - _Refusing to buy protection, the restaurant owner soon found his windows smashed._
6. In economics, limits imposed on foreign competitors, such as import tariffs, to shield a country's own businesses from their competition.
   - Simple: Rules that protect a country's businesses by limiting competition from foreign goods or services.
   - _The government offered protection to the steel industry through high import tariffs._
   - _Critics argue that protection keeps prices high for ordinary consumers._

## Noun

7. A polite term for adult incontinence wear, such as absorbent pads or undergarments. *(rare)*
   - Simple: A polite term for pads or special underwear adults wear when they cannot fully control their bladder or bowels.
   - _After her surgery, she wore light bladder protection for a few weeks until the leaks stopped._
   - _Many adults who leak a little when they laugh or sneeze rely on thin, discreet protection worn inside their underwear._
8. A passport or similar official document guaranteeing the bearer safety from harm or interference. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: An official paper that kept the holder safe from harm while traveling.

## Other meanings

- (noun) In computing, the access restrictions set on a resource such as a file or area of memory, controlling who or what may read, change or run it.

## Origin

Latin prōtegere ("to protect, cover in front") had the past participle prōtēctus, from which came Late Latin prōtectiō ("a covering over"); the word reached English through Old French and Middle English. In English terms it is protect plus -ion, and it took the place of the native Old English ġesċildnes.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/protection (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).