off-label

adjective

off-la·​bel ˈȯf-ˌlā-bəl How to pronounce off-label (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a drug used to treat a condition for which it has not been officially approved

Examples of off-label in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bhattacharya responded that the NIH should fund research to look at off-patent, off-label uses of drugs. Victoria Knight, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025 Both can treat Type 2 diabetes, and became widely known after celebrities began using it off-label for weight loss. Angel Saunders, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025 Oral minoxidil: Low-dose oral minoxidil is sometimes prescribed off-label for male- and female-pattern hair loss.6 4. Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2025 An off-label prescription drug has been shown to help some non-verbal children with autism discover the ability to speak. Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for off-label

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-label was in 1987

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Cite this Entry

“Off-label.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-label. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

off-label

adjective
off-la·​bel ˌȯf-ˌlā-bəl How to pronounce off-label (audio)
: of, relating to, or being an approved drug legally prescribed or a medical device legally used by a physician for a purpose (as the treatment of children or of a certain disease or condition) for which it has not been specifically approved (as by the United States Food and Drug Administration)
the off-label use of oral contraceptives to treat dysmenorrhea
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