Rx
Rx (noun) means a doctor's prescription, or the symbol printed on a prescription form and on pharmacy signage to mark it as one. Example: “Bring your Rx to the counter and we'll fill it.”
How to Use Rx
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA prescription from a doctor.
Chiefly American in everyday use — US pharmacies, insurance plans and drug marketing all use it. British patients normally say prescription. Written with a capital R and lower-case x.
In clinical notes Rx sits alongside Dx (diagnosis), Hx (history) and Tx (treatment or transplant).
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Bring your _____ to the counter and we'll fill it.
Etymology
An abbreviation of Latin recipe, 'take', the traditional opening word of a prescription instructing the pharmacist to take the listed ingredients. The stroke across the R's leg is a scribal abbreviation mark.
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rx stand for?
It abbreviates the Latin word recipe, meaning 'take', which historically began every written prescription. A popular claim that it derives from an astrological symbol for Jupiter is not supported by the documentary evidence.
What is the difference between Rx and OTC?
Rx medicines require a prescription from a licensed prescriber and are dispensed by a pharmacist. OTC — over-the-counter — medicines can be bought off the shelf without one. Some drugs switch from Rx to OTC once a regulator judges them safe for unsupervised use.
What is the difference between Rx and Dx?
Dx is shorthand for diagnosis, the name of the condition. Rx is the treatment or prescription that follows from it. Clinical notes usually list them in that order.
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