dispense medication

USAGE SUMMARY

"dispense medication" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to give or distribute medication to someone. Example: The pharmacist will dispense your medication once you present your prescription at the counter.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

One woman mentioned she had gotten a quilt for being in a medical trial for an inhaler to dispense medication.

The New York Times

What if a stand-alone booth, similar to a RedBox movie rental dispenser, could offer two-way communication with licensed pharmacists and the ability to dispense medication?

Huffington Post

Normally, only health-care professionals can dispense medication to detainees.

The New Yorker

Hospitals and clinics always fully cover the cost to dispense medication.

Cornell University

These methods could detect who was infected, but a separate system was needed to dispense medication, and still another system to monitor results.

The New Yorker

They would be required to hire nurses to dispense medication and would be overseen in part by the State Public Health Council, which approves new hospitals and nursing homes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

They can help you answer questions, provide comfort to your child, dispense medications, handle all the bedside medical equipment along with respiratory therapists.

WikiHow

She cites the unwillingness of pathologists to question the wisdom with which doctors dispense medications.

The New York Times - Books

Still other devices dispense medications at predetermined times and give reminders to take the pills.

Harvard University

Obviously, some are foolish enough to dispense medications they do not understand to people who demand them.

The New York Times

We assessed if knowledge and attitudes were predictive of EC dispensing among a statewide sample of Florida pharmacists, who have legal authority to refuse to dispense medications.

Contraception

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a general audience, prefer the phrase "dispense medication" over more technical terms like "administer pharmaceuticals" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "dispense medication" when you mean "prescribe medication". Dispensing refers to the act of providing the medication, while prescribing refers to authorizing its use.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dispense medication" is as a verb phrase, where "dispense" acts as a transitive verb taking "medication" as its direct object. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its common usage. It describes the action of distributing medication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dispense medication" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to describe the action of distributing medication. Ludwig confirms this assessment, showing its prevalence across varied sources. Predominantly found in news, scientific and academic contexts, it maintains a neutral to formal register. When using the term, ensure that you are referring to the act of providing the medication, and not prescribing it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

administer drugs

This alternative uses "administer" which implies a more controlled or formal process of giving drugs.

provide medicine

This phrase uses the more general term "medicine" instead of "medication", broadening the scope slightly.

give out medication

This option is more informal, replacing "dispense" with the phrasal verb "give out".

supply medication

This alternative focuses on the action of providing or making medication available.

allot medication

This suggests distributing medication in specific amounts or portions.

prescribe and provide medication

Includes the act of prescribing and giving the medication

distribute pharmaceuticals

Replaces "medication" with the more formal term "pharmaceuticals".

hand out drugs

Similar to "give out medication" but uses "drugs" which can sometimes carry a negative connotation depending on context.

furnish medication

Uses the word "furnish", implying a more formal or official provision of medication.

make medication available

Focuses on enabling access to medication, rather than the act of dispensing itself.

FAQs

What does "dispense medication" mean?

"Dispense medication" means to distribute or provide medication to a patient, typically by a pharmacist or healthcare provider.

Who can legally "dispense medication"?

Typically, licensed pharmacists and other authorized healthcare professionals are permitted to "dispense medication". Regulations vary by jurisdiction.

What is the difference between "dispense medication" and "prescribe medication"?

"Dispense medication" refers to the act of providing the medication, while "prescribe medication" refers to a doctor's authorization for a patient to use a specific medication.

What are some alternatives to "dispense medication"?

Alternatives include "administer drugs", "provide medicine", or "give out medication", depending on the context.