off-label

adjective

off-la·​bel ˈȯf-ˌlā-bəl 

: of, relating to, or being a drug used to treat a condition for which it has not been officially approved

Examples of off-label in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, 1 in 5 prescriptions is for off-label use of a drug. — Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 15 May 2026

It is also often used off-label at lower doses to treat insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2026

Technically, healthcare providers can prescribe GLP-1 drugs for off-label use. — Sukhman Rekhi, Verywell Health, 1 June 2026

The actor had been taking the surgical anesthetic ketamine legally for depression, an increasingly common off-label use. — Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for off-label

• damnable
• disable
• enable
• roundtable
• timetable
• turntable
• unable
• unstable
• able
• chaebol
• fable
• label

Medical Definition

off-label

adjective

off-la·​bel ˌȯf-ˌlā-bəl 

: of, relating to, or being an approved drug legally prescribed or a medical device legally used by a physician for a purpose (as the treatment of children or of a certain disease or condition) for which it has not been specifically approved (as by the United States Food and Drug Administration)

the off-label use of oral contraceptives to treat dysmenorrhea