# prescription

/pɹəsˈkɹɪpʃən/ (US) · /pɹɪskɹˈɪpʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prescription
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. medical order

noun · CEFR B1

a piece of paper from a doctor that allows you to get a specific medicine from a pharmacy.

For teachers: a written order from a licensed medical practitioner authorizing a patient to be provided with a specific medication or treatment.

- The doctor wrote me a prescription for some strong painkillers after my surgery.
- The pharmacist refused to dispense the medication because the prescription lacked the necessary physician signature and date of issue.

### 2. the medicine itself

noun · CEFR B1

the actual medicine that a doctor has ordered for you.

For teachers: the medicine or remedy prescribed by a medical professional.

- I need to stop at the chemist to pick up my prescription.
- Patients are advised to finish their entire prescription of antibiotics even if they begin to feel better after a few days.

### 3. a recommendation or rule

noun · CEFR B2

a rule or a plan for how something should be done or handled.

For teachers: a recommendation, rule, or formal direction for action or conduct.

- Her prescription for a happy life is simple: eat well and sleep enough.
- The economist's prescription for the failing industry involved a controversial mix of tax breaks and aggressive deregulation.

### 4. linguistic rules

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

the act of making rules about how a language should be used correctly.

For teachers: the establishment of authoritative norms for language use, often contrasted with description.

- Some teachers prefer strict prescription, while others just describe how people actually speak.
- Linguistic prescription often reflects the social biases of the era rather than the inherent logic of the language itself.

### 5. legal time limit

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a rule that says a right or a claim is lost if it is not used within a certain time.

For teachers: the acquisition of a right or title, or the loss of a right to sue, through the effect of a lapse of time.

- The company argued that the claim was invalid because of the law of prescription.
- Under the principle of acquisitive prescription, the occupant gained legal title to the land after twenty years of uninterrupted use.

## Examples

- The doctor wrote me a prescription for antibiotics.
- You must present a valid prescription at the pharmacy before they can dispense the required medication.
- While over-the-counter remedies are available for minor ailments, more potent drugs require a formal prescription to ensure they are administered under professional supervision.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.