NPO
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for NPO, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Abbreviation — Nothing by mouth; an instruction that a patient must not eat or drink, usually before surgery or a procedure, or because swallowing is unsafe.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. abbreviation medical
Nothing by mouth; an instruction that a patient must not eat or drink, usually before surgery or a procedure, or because swallowing is unsafe.
“Keep the patient NPO from midnight before the operation.”
2. abbreviation
Non-profit organisation; a body that operates for a social, charitable or public purpose rather than to distribute profit to owners.
“The shelter is run by a local NPO with three paid staff.”
How to Use Npo
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The medical sense is standard in American hospital charting; the non-profit sense is common in accounting and grant writing.
Etymology
In the medical sense, an initialism of Latin nil per os, 'nothing through the mouth'.
Full origin of NPO →Frequently Asked Questions
What does NPO stand for in medical terms?
Nil per os, Latin for 'nothing through the mouth'. It means the patient must not take food, drink or oral medication until the order is lifted.
What is the difference between NPO and nil by mouth?
Nothing. NPO is the standard American abbreviation and nil by mouth, often shortened to NBM, is the British equivalent. Both mean the same restriction.
Can an NPO patient take medication?
Not by mouth unless a clinician specifically permits it. Essential drugs are usually given intravenously or the order is written to allow sips of water with medication.