prescription
5 synonyms for prescription, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A doctor's written authorization for a patient to receive a particular medicine or treatment.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
How to use prescription
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
fill a prescription
prescription medication
prescription for change
Etymology
From Latin praescriptio, "something written beforehand," from prae- ("before") and scribere ("to write").
Full origin of prescription →Frequently asked questions
What does “prescription” mean?
The word “prescription” means a doctor's written authorization for a patient to receive a particular medicine or treatment. In plain terms, a doctor's order for medicine, or more broadly, a recommended fix for a problem.
How do you pronounce “prescription”?
“Prescription” is pronounced pruh-SKRIHP-shuhn (/pɹəˈskɹɪp.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “prescription” in a sentence?
Here is “prescription” used in a sentence: “The pharmacist filled her prescription for painkillers.”
What part of speech is “prescription”?
“Prescription” is a noun.
Where does the word “prescription” come from?
The word “prescription” comes from Latin. From Latin praescriptio, "something written beforehand," from prae- ("before") and scribere ("to write").
Is “prescription” a common word?
“Prescription” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “prescription” have?
“Prescription” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a doctor's written authorization for a patient to receive a particular medicine or treatment.
Is it spelled "prescription" or "perscription"?
The correct spelling is "prescription", beginning with pre-, the same prefix as in "prescribe". "Perscription" is a common misspelling that mirrors how the word is often pronounced quickly in speech.
What is the difference between "prescription" and "over-the-counter" medicine?
A prescription medicine can only be supplied with a doctor's written authorization, while an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine can be bought directly from a pharmacy or shop without one. The prescription itself is the document or electronic order the doctor issues.
