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

Adjective

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of hair loss treatment options today, from prescription medications and over-the-counter supplements to topical shampoos and serums and high-tech lasers. —Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026

Walgreens has agreed to pay $6 million in a settlement to a lawsuit filed by several district attorney’s offices across California alleging that the drug store chain overcharged customers and sold expired over-the-counter products in violation of state law, prosecutors said. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026

According to WebMD, this is the only over-the-counter medication for hair loss approved by the FDA for use by both men and women. —Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026

Twenty-eight of the sharks had detectable levels of caffeine, two common over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkillers, or, in one instance, cocaine in their blood, according to the study. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 26 Mar. 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