# FDA

/ˌɛfˌdiˈeɪ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fda
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. US regulatory agency

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

Stands for Food and Drug Administration. It is the US government agency that checks if food, medicines, and medical tools are safe.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Food and Drug Administration. The US federal agency responsible for regulating food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs, and medical devices.

- The new medicine cannot be sold in stores until it gets approval from the FDA.
- The pharmaceutical company submitted its clinical trial data to the FDA, hoping for an expedited review process for their breakthrough treatment.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the agency.

Teaching tip: While other countries like the Philippines have an FDA, in international news and business English, the term almost always refers to the United States agency.

## Examples

- The FDA approved the new medicine yesterday.
- Before the company can sell the new heart medication, they must submit years of clinical trial data to the FDA for review.
- The FDA serves as a regulatory gatekeeper, balancing the urgent public need for innovative therapies against the necessity of rigorous safety standards to prevent the distribution of harmful substances.

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