View synonyms for

over the counter

adverb

not transacted through an organized securities exchange; directly to the buyer or from the seller:
He sold his stocks over the counter.
Pharmacology. without a doctor's prescription but within the law.

over-the-counter

[ oh-ver-thuh-koun-ter ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

unlisted on or not part of an organized securities exchange: : OTC
over-the-counter stocks; the over-the-counter market.
Pharmacology. sold legally without a doctor's prescription: : OTC
over-the-counter drugs.

over-the-counter

adjective

1. (of securities) not listed or quoted on a stock exchange
2. (of a security market) dealing in such securities
3. (of security transactions) conducted through a broker's office directly between purchaser and seller and not on a stock exchange
(of medicinal drugs) able to be sold without a prescription OTC Compare ortho-

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Word History and Origins

Origin of over the counter¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Origin of over the counter²

First recorded in 1920–25

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

However, refrigeration does have a big advantage over the counter: It lengthens the egg’s shelf life.

From

Emergency contraception is already free of charge from most GPs and sexual health clinics but ministers say getting it over the counter is more of a "postcode lottery".

From

According to a 2024 paper in the California Law Review, they were made over the counter in the ’60s, then taken back under prescription at a manufacturer’s request after gay nurses helped popularize recreational use.

From

Former President Joe Biden was the first president in U.S. history to endorse a harm reduction strategy at the federal level, making naloxone available over the counter and investing $82 billion in treatment facilities.

From

If irritation occurs, she advises using artificial tears like Refresh or Systane, which can be bought over the counter and used multiple times a day.

From

over-the-air over the edge

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