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over-the-counter
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
To address discomfort, both Dr. Davis and Dr. Ahmed suggest applying a warm compress and taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 30 Oct. 2024
Moreover, fears of both U.S. financial sanctions and shocks to the U.S. sovereign debt as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war have led to increasing demand in the London over-the-counter market, Thomas noted.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024
Condoms have been reimbursable for years through a pre-tax health savings account (HSA) or flexible savings account (FSA), which cover over-the-counter medications that aren’t generally tax deductible as an itemized deduction.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
Both doctors recommend speaking to your dermatologist if over-the-counter treatments are not providing enough relief, and using any prescribed topical steroid exactly as directed while avoiding overuse.
—Kelsey Eisen, Allure, 28 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near over-the-counter
Cite this Entry
“Over-the-counter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/over-the-counter. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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
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