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-counter¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

A number of pharmacies have said they have stopped making aspirin available for over the counter sales.

From BBC

U.S.-listed shares of Repsol, which trade over the counter, declined 3.5%.

From Barron's

U.S.-listed shares of Repsol, which trade over the counter, declined 3.5%.

From Barron's

You can now skip the checkup and get continuous glucose monitors, hearing aids and more over the counter.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Science Daily