self-administer

verb

self-ad·​min·​is·​ter ˌself-əd-ˈmi-nə-stər How to pronounce self-administer (audio)
self-administered; self-administering; self-administers

transitive + intransitive

: to administer (something, such as a drug) to oneself
can self-administer the drug with an inhaler
allowed to self-administer the test
Those regulations … also state that only a school nurse can apply medications, but exemptions exist that allow students in some cases to self-administer according to district guidelines.Jennifer Bogdan

Examples of self-administer 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.
Researchers believe the approach could let patients self-administer powerful protein drugs at home. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025 Additionally, FluMist can be self-administered to those aged 18-49 and administered by a parent or caregiver to those aged 2-17. Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025 That all changed in September 2024 when the FDA approved FluMist to be the first self-administer-able flu vaccine out there. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025 The vaccine that people can now self-administer at home will have the same vial, same vaccine formulation and same effectiveness as the FluMist used by health-care providers, AstraZeneca said. Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025 Under the new law, which takes effect next year, adult, mentally-capable patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and are expected to die within six months can request and self-administer medication to end their lives. Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 20 May 2025 The concept was to make cervical cancer screening more accessible via telehealth and a test that could be self-administered at home, rather than at a doctor’s office. Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 9 May 2025 Connelly is accused of a bevy of misdeeds in the letter, including instructing West on how to self-administer nitrous oxide without any medical supervision or safeguards. Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2025 Currently, state law allows competent students to self-administer allergy, asthma, and diabetes medications, with parental consent and authorization from the school. Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-administer was in 1846

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-administer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-administer. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

self-administer

transitive verb
self-ad·​min·​i·​ster -əd-ˈmi-nə-stər How to pronounce self-administer (audio)
: to administer (as a drug) to oneself
self-administered an analgesic
self-administration noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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