prescription
pruh-SKRIHP-shuhn
Prescription (noun) means a doctor's written authorization for a patient to receive a particular medicine or treatment. Example: “You cannot buy this tablet without a prescription from your doctor.”
noun
1
A doctor's written authorization for a patient to receive a particular medicine or treatment.
"You cannot buy this tablet without a prescription from your doctor."
"The pharmacist filled her prescription for painkillers."
"He needs a new prescription for his glasses."
2
A recommended plan or method for dealing with a problem.
"Her prescription for a happier workplace was simple: listen to staff more often."
"The coach's prescription for a losing streak was more rest and less pressure."
"The economist's prescription for the recession was heavy public spending."
How to use prescription
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA doctor's order for medicine, or more broadly, a recommended fix for a problem.
Common pairings
fill a prescription
prescription medication
prescription for change
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like prescription.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- prescriptions
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
You cannot buy this tablet without a _____ from your doctor.
Etymology
From Latin praescriptio, "something written beforehand," from prae- ("before") and scribere ("to write").
Related words
Rhymes for prescription
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include prescription:
