protect
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to defend or guard from attack, invasion, loss, annoyance, insult, etc.; cover or shield from injury or danger.
- Antonyms:
- attack
-
Economics. to guard (the industry or an industry of a nation) from foreign competition by imposing import duties.
-
to provide funds for the payment of (a draft, note, etc.).
verb (used without object)
-
to provide, or be capable of providing, protection.
a floor wax that protects as well as shines.
verb
-
to defend from trouble, harm, attack, etc
-
economics to assist (domestic industries) by the imposition of protective tariffs on imports
-
commerce to provide funds in advance to guarantee payment of (a note, draft, etc)
Related Words
See defend.
Other Word Forms
- overprotect verb (used with object)
- protectability noun
- protectable adjective
- protectibility noun
- protectible adjective
- quasi-protected adjective
- semiprotected adjective
- unprotectable adjective
- unprotected adjective
- well-protected adjective
Etymology
Origin of protect
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin prōtēctus “covered in front,” past participle of prōtegere “to cover in front,” equivalent to prō- pro- 1 + tegere “to cover” (akin to toga, thatch )
Whether it’s your reputation or your jewelry, when you protect something you keep it safe from anything that might threaten or harm it. The word protect came into English by way of the Latin verb protegere, a combination of pro- meaning “in front,” and tegere, meaning “to cover.” When you protect something, in a way you’re covering it or shielding it from harm. Often the word is used in the sense of protecting something, like a valued item or a person, but you can also protect against something. For example, you might get a flu shot to protect against the flu virus.
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hedging refers to when investors look for ways to protect their market positions from volatile movements without selling those positions.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026
Sir Olly told MPs he was right not to share this in order to protect the integrity of the vetting system.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
These changes are crucial to protect the city’s nearly 50,000 fast food workers from violence, wage theft and the denial of basic labor protections, advocates said in a news release announcing the strike.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
"But mining will make everything around us dirty. Our forefathers taught us to protect the forest; it is everything to us."
From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026
“Ruby, protect me!” he squealed in exaggerated high notes.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.