off-label

American

[awf-ley-buhl, of‑] / ˈɔfˈleɪ bəl, ˈɒf‑ /

adjective

Informal.

of, relating to, or denoting a drug prescribed for a particular indication even though the drug has not yet received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for that disease, condition, or symptom.

off label British

adjective

(of a prescription drug) relating to use, or being used, in ways for which it has not been approved

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

It’s widely assumed many fund investors use these ETFs off-label, hoping for results over longer periods.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

Much of that success can be attributed to widespread use of Wegovy and Zepbound and the off-label prescription of GLP-1s approved for diabetes.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

He’s such a fan that he has taken it himself “for its geroprotective effects” and prescribed it off-label to his patients; he also discloses that he has funded animal research into its antiaging properties.

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2026

The World Health Organization supports an off-label recommendation for a one-dose schedule based on recent efficacy data from single-dose trials.

From Salon • Feb. 22, 2026

And even if it is prescribed, it has to be given a "off-label" as there is currently no licensed treatments for women available on the NHS.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023