prescription

American  

[pri-skrip-shuhn] / prɪˈskrɪp ʃən /

noun

• prescriptions
  plural

1. Medicine/Medical.

   1. a direction, usually written, by the physician to the pharmacist for the preparation and use of a medicine or remedy.

   2. the medicine prescribed.

      Take this prescription three times a day.

2. an act of prescribing.

3. that which is prescribed.

4. Law.

   1. Also called positive prescription.  a long or immemorial use of some right with respect to a thing so as to give a right to continue such use.

   2. Also called positive prescription.  the process of acquiring rights by uninterrupted assertion of the right over a long period of time.

   3. Also called negative prescription.  the loss of rights to legal remedy due to the limitation of time within which an action can be taken.

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adjective

1. (of drugs) sold only upon medical prescription; ethical.

prescription British  

/ prɪˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. 1. written instructions from a physician, dentist, etc, to a pharmacist stating the form, dosage strength, etc, of a drug to be issued to a specific patient

   2. the drug or remedy prescribed

2. (modifier) (of drugs) available legally only with a doctor's prescription

3. 1. written instructions from an optician specifying the lenses needed to correct defects of vision

   2. ( as modifier )

      prescription glasses

4. the act of prescribing

5. something that is prescribed

6. a long established custom or a claim based on one

7. law

   1. the uninterrupted possession of property over a stated period of time, after which a right or title is acquired ( positive prescription )

   2. the barring of adverse claims to property, etc, after a specified period of time has elapsed, allowing the possessor to acquire title ( negative prescription )

   3. the right or title acquired in either of these ways

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• prescriptions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of prescription

1250–1300; Middle English < Medieval Latin praescrīptiōn- (stem of praescrīptiō ) legal possession (of property), law, order, literally, a writing before, hence, a heading on a document. See prescript, -ion

Explanation

A prescription is an order written by a doctor for someone to get a drug that is not available without this permission. If you get a bad ear infection, you'll need a prescription for antibiotics. When your doctor writes a prescription, she's advising you to take a medication that you can only get from a pharmacist. You can refer to the paper with the drug's name and the doctor's signature and the bottle of medicine as a prescription. Sometimes prescription is used in a non-medical way to simply mean a suggestion or recommendation, like laughter and friends — a great prescription for chasing away the blues.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prescription prescriptions

‘It feels like a medical miracle’: How did a single QR code coupon cut my $618 Walgreens prescription to $15?

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

But while people will be able to buy it privately with a prescription, the approval by the Medicines and Healthcare productors Regulatory Agency does not automatically mean it will be made available on the NHS.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Amazon Pharmacy manages the entire process, including verifying eligibility, handling prior authorizations, and initiating enrollment, once a clinician submits an electronic GLP-1 prescription, the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

The research team also reviewed prescription information and hospital records.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026

If you have no money for health insurance—and the Hearthside’s niggardly plan kicks in only after three months—you go without routine care or prescription drugs and end up paying the price.

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

The Wegovy pill has been held up as a success story under Novo Nordisk’s new leadership, recording more than 5 million prescriptions since January.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

"Instead of relying solely on high-frequency exercise prescriptions, once-weekly interval training can be considered a feasible and effective alternative," added Professor Siu.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 2, 2026

Over time, he became an outspoken advocate of Keynesian policy prescriptions, especially after the 2008-09 financial crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

In 2024/25, there were around 150,000 NHS prescriptions for the morning-after pill - far fewer than under the new service.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

But Mrs. Anderson had been a patient employer, especially after her doctor’s prescriptions, and the children were pleasant.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Related Words

• drug
• instruction
• recipe
• remedy