prescription drug

noun

: a drug that can be obtained only by means of a physician's prescription

Examples of prescription drug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For example, by automating repetitive tasks like membership renewals, prescription drug refills, or changes of address, human error can be reduced, and resource allocation can be optimized—which is key in a world where employment can be difficult to fulfill. Tim Houlne, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024 The Inflation Reduction Act's cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug spending for people covered by Medicare began this year with a $3,500 cap that goes down to $2,000 in 2025. Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 4 Sep. 2024 PBMs were created in the 1960s as a way to process prescription drug claims. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2024 Around 56 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare prescription drug plans, but without a cap on out-of-pocket costs, many seniors still struggle to afford vital medications. Bruce Gil, Quartz, 29 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prescription drug 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prescription drug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prescription drug was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near prescription drug

Cite this Entry

“Prescription drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prescription%20drug. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.

Medical Definition

prescription drug

noun
: a drug that can be obtained only by means of a physician's prescription

More from Merriam-Webster on prescription drug

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!