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• over the counter
  over the counter

  adverb

  not transacted through an organized securities exchange; directly to the buyer or from the seller.
• over-the-counter
  over-the-counter

  adjective

  unlisted on or not part of an organized securities exchange: OTC

over the counter

¹ American  

adverb

1. not transacted through an organized securities exchange; directly to the buyer or from the seller.

   He sold his stocks over the counter.

2. Pharmacology. without a doctor's prescription but within the law.

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over-the-counter ² American  

[oh-ver-thuh-koun-ter] / ˈoʊ vər ðəˈkaʊn tər /

adjective

1. unlisted on or not part of an organized securities exchange: OTC

   over-the-counter stocks; the over-the-counter market.

2. Pharmacology. sold legally without a doctor's prescription: OTC

   over-the-counter drugs.

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over-the-counter British  

adjective

1. 1. (of securities) not listed or quoted on a stock exchange

   2. (of a security market) dealing in such securities

   3. (of security transactions) conducted through a broker's office directly between purchaser and seller and not on a stock exchange

2.  OTC.  (of medicinal drugs) able to be sold without a prescription Compare ortho-

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Etymology

Origin of over the counter¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Origin of over-the-counter²

First recorded in 1920–25

Explanation

An over-the-counter drug is one you can buy without a prescription. Aspirin is an over-the-counter drug, but for antibiotics or other prescription drugs, you'll have to see the pharmacist. Over-the-counter drugs can be bought without a doctor's permission. You don't even have to go to the pharmacy to get over-the-counter drugs, just march up to the counter and buy it. There are all kinds of over-the-counter drugs, like pain relievers, allergy medicine, or various types of heartburn relief. Generally, over-the-counter drugs are less potentially dangerous than prescription drugs, so they’re easier to buy.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

over the counter over-the-counter

Shares in Fannie and Freddie, which trade over the counter, have surged since President Trump’s election on hopes of an IPO.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026

You can break it into pieces and dip it, use it as a base for toppings, or just eat it straight, standing over the counter.

From Salon ● May 22, 2026

This treatment is FDA approved, widely available over the counter, and comes in topical forms such as lotions and foams.

From Science Daily ● May 7, 2026

Minoxidil has the same ingredient as Rogaine, which is available topically over the counter.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026

The druggist leaned way over the counter and frowned.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston

Don’t take the over-the-counter medication Imodium if you’re ill.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

In Pasadena, volunteers at the restaurant Chamo Venezuelan Cuisine collected supplies, issuing a special plea for bandages, gauze, painkillers and other over-the-counter medicines.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

Treasuries trade in an over-the-counter market, which is harder to access and is more opaque than exchange-traded securities.

From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026

The team noted that while arginine is widely available as an over-the-counter supplement, the doses and methods used in this study were specifically designed for research and are not the same as commercial products.

From Science Daily ● May 4, 2026

I'd tried every over-the-counter zit medication known to man, along with harsher prescription creams like Retin-A or pills like erythromycin that were recommended by my dermatologist.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi