prescription drug

noun

: a drug that can be obtained only by means of a physician's prescription

Examples of prescription drug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2003, Congress created Medicare Part D to cover outpatient prescription drugs, which had previously been excluded from Medicare benefits. Jeffrey Kopp, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025 Short of a full ban, in 1985, the FDA established strict guidelines for advertising prescription drugs. Chad De Guzman, Time, 10 Sep. 2025 PBMs manage prescription drug benefits for plan sponsors, wield enormous power over a drug’s market share through utilization control strategies. Ge Bai, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Framed as a plan to reduce childhood diseases, the movement seeks to redirect federal health agencies toward investigating vaccine safety, autism, prescription drug use, and environmental factors linked to chronic illness. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prescription drug

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prescription drug was in 1872

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Cite this Entry

“Prescription drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prescription%20drug. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

prescription drug

noun
: a drug that can be obtained only by means of a physician's prescription

More from Merriam-Webster on prescription drug

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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