noun

FDA

ef-dee-AY

FDA (noun) means the United States Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency responsible for approving and regulating medicines, medical devices, food, cosmetics and tobacco products. Example: “The drug received FDA approval after two large trials.”

noun

The United States Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency responsible for approving and regulating medicines, medical devices, food, cosmetics and tobacco products.

"The drug received FDA approval after two large trials."

"The FDA issued a recall notice for the affected batch."

adjective

Describing something that has been approved, cleared or regulated by that agency.

"Only FDA-approved sunscreens may make that claim on the label."

How to use FDA

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe FDA is the US government body that decides which medicines and foods are safe to sell.

When to use it

Takes the definite article: the FDA. FDA-approved and FDA-cleared are hyphenated before a noun and mean different things in law.

Memory tip

The FDA is American. The UK equivalent is the MHRA and the EU's is the EMA, so FDA approval means nothing outside the US on its own.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

EMA → MHRA USDA CDC

Common pairings

FDA approval FDA-approved FDA-cleared FDA recall submitted to the FDA

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The drug received _____ approval after two large trials.

Etymology

An initialism of Food and Drug Administration.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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Food and Drug Administration

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between FDA-approved and FDA-cleared?

Approved means the FDA reviewed evidence that the product is safe and effective for its stated use — the standard for new drugs and high-risk devices. Cleared is a lighter route for devices, meaning the maker showed it is substantially equivalent to something already on the market.

What is the difference between the FDA and the USDA?

The FDA regulates most foods, all human and animal drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and tobacco. The USDA regulates meat, poultry and processed egg products, along with farming policy more broadly.

Does the FDA approve dietary supplements?

No. Supplements are sold without pre-market approval; the FDA can only act after a product reaches the market and proves unsafe or falsely labelled. A supplement bottle claiming to be FDA-approved is misrepresenting the rules.

What is the meaning of FDA?

"FDA" (noun) means the United States Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency responsible for approving and regulating medicines, medical devices, food, cosmetics and tobacco products.