off-label

adjective

off-la·​bel ˈȯf-ˌlā-bəl How to pronounce off-label (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a drug used to treat a condition for which it has not been officially approved

Examples of off-label in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Justice Department has repeatedly argued that the information sought in the subpoenas is needed to investigate possible fraud or unlawful off-label promotion of drugs. ABC News, 14 May 2026 For instance, the diabetes medication Metformin is not officially approved for PMOS, but is sometimes prescribed off-label. Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 14 May 2026 Ivermectin–benzimidazole, a combination of antiparasitic medications, was touted as an off-label cancer treatment during actor Mel Gibson’s January 2025 appearance. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026 Perry had been receiving ketamine treatments for depression — an increasingly common off-label use. Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for off-label

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-label was in 1987

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Cite this Entry

“Off-label.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-label. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Medical Definition

off-label

adjective
off-la·​bel ˌȯf-ˌlā-bəl How to pronounce off-label (audio)
: of, relating to, or being an approved drug legally prescribed or a medical device legally used by a physician for a purpose (as the treatment of children or of a certain disease or condition) for which it has not been specifically approved (as by the United States Food and Drug Administration)
the off-label use of oral contraceptives to treat dysmenorrhea
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