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

There’s a hot market for off-label or fake badges, with street prices reaching above 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,200). —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026

McCoy is also concerned that the relative ease of accessing the pills may increase their off-label use among people who do not have obesity. —Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 5 Jan. 2026

However, it quickly became prescribed by doctors off-label en masse as its appetite surpressing and weight-loss properties became known. —Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025

Antipsychotic medications can be used off-label to treat a host of other mental health conditions, including anxiety, ADHD, depression, substance abuse disorders and PTSD. —David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025

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