over the counter

1 of 2

phrase

1

: in or through a broker's office rather than through a stock exchange

stock bought over the counter

2

: without a prescription

drugs available over the counter

over-the-counter

2 of 2

adjective

over-the-count·​er ˌō-vər-ṯẖə-ˈkau̇n-tər 

1

: not traded or effected on an organized securities exchange

over-the-counter transactions

over-the-counter securities

2

: sold lawfully without prescription

an over-the-counter pain reliever

Examples of over the counter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Phrase

Enhanced Group, the company behind the Games, had recently begun selling peptides, supplements, and testosterone, over the counter and by prescription, to the public. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

The other alternative is buying unsponsored American depositary receipts, or ADRs, over the counter. — Bailey Lipschultz, Fortune, 5 July 2026

Adjective

Cyclospora infections do not respond to typical over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026

Healthcare providers may recommend a combination of over-the-counter medications like Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen), physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, and medical-grade braces or orthotics to treat the pain. — Sukhman Rekhi, Verywell Health, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for over the counter

• encounter

Kids Definition

over-the-counter

adjective

: sold legally without a prescription

an over-the-counter pain reliever

Medical Definition

over-the-counter

adjective

: sold lawfully without prescription

an over-the-counter painkiller

Legal Definition

over-the-counter

adjective

over-the-count·​er

1

: not traded or effected on an organized securities exchange

over-the-counter transactions

over-the-counter securities

2

: sold lawfully without a prescription

over-the-counter drugs