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over-the-counter
adjective
over-the-count·er
ˌō-vər-ṯẖə-ˈkau̇n-tər
1
: not traded or effected on an organized securities exchange
over-the-counter transactions
over-the-counter securities
2
: sold lawfully without prescription
an over-the-counter pain reliever
Examples of over-the-counter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aspirin is an over-the-counter medication used for a variety of reasons, but particularly in heart attack and stroke prevention for older people.
—
Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
But there are some new tools to help this respiratory virus season: over-the-counter tests that can identify whether an illness is Covid-19 or influenza.
—
Neha Mukherjee, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
However, many over-the-counter (OTC) products and prescription medications are available for morning sickness, too.
—
Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2025
Your treatment options range from lifestyle changes to prescription and over-the-counter medications.
—
Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 3 Feb. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near over-the-counter
Cite this Entry
“Over-the-counter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/over-the-counter. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
over-the-counter
adjective
: sold legally without a prescription
an over-the-counter pain reliever
Medical Definition
over-the-counter
adjective
: sold lawfully without prescription
an over-the-counter painkiller
Legal Definition
over-the-counter
adjective
over-the-count·er
1
: not traded or effected on an organized securities exchange
over-the-counter transactions
over-the-counter securities
2
: sold lawfully without a prescription
over-the-counter drugs
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