always used before a noun
1
: available for purchase without a special note (called a prescription) from a doctor
an over-the-counter medication
over-the-counter drugs
—abbr. OTC
2
US, business
: not traded on an organized stock exchange
an over-the-counter stock
Cite this Entry
“Over-the-counter.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/over-the-counter. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.
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