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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

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

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

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026

Shares of Fannie and Freddie, which trade over the counter, soared last year after Trump on social media said he was working on taking the companies public.

From Barron's ● Mar. 20, 2026

Dr. Pieper cautioned against confusing this strategy with over the counter NAD+-precursors.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 24, 2025

Lydia leaned over the counter and motioned at the laptop.

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

Acetaminophen is the primary active ingredient in over-the-counter medications including Tylenol.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 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

"A lot of these people actively take an over-the-counter supplement that could be making their disease progression worse."

From Science Daily ● Jun. 10, 2026

There are currently no plans to ban over-the-counter sales of pet and flea treatments in Jersey.

From BBC ● May 3, 2026

One person’s infirmity can be a teammate’s extra burden; there’s a constant traffic in herbal and over-the-counter solutions to pain.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich