medication
HighNeutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
A drug or other substance used to treat a disease, injury, or medical condition.
The process of administering such a drug, or the branch of medicine dealing with drug treatment. Can also refer collectively to a person's prescribed drugs.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a mass noun, but can be pluralised ('medications') when referring to multiple distinct drugs. Often carries a more formal or professional connotation than 'medicine'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is standard and common in both. 'Medicines' may be slightly more common in everyday UK talk for simple remedies, but 'medication' is dominant in formal/medical contexts in both regions.
Connotations
In both, it suggests a prescribed or doctor-recommended treatment, not a casual remedy.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in US English across registers, but the difference is minor.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + medication (take, prescribe, administer)PREP. + medication (on, for, without)ADJ. + medication (prescribed, daily, effective, strong)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on medication (regularly taking prescribed drugs)”
- “a course of medication (a prescribed period of treatment)”
- “medication management (organising one's drug regimen)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Discussions of pharmaceutical production, insurance coverage, and healthcare costs.
Academic
In medical, pharmacological, nursing, and psychology research papers.
Everyday
Discussing a doctor's prescription, managing a chronic condition, or talking about side effects.
Technical
Specifying drug classes, delivery systems, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic protocols.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The GP will medicate the patient for hypertension.
- The wound was medicated with an antiseptic cream.
American English
- The physician will medicate the patient for high blood pressure.
- The lesion was medicated with a topical antibiotic.
adverb
British English
- (No common direct adverb form. Typically paraphrased, e.g., 'treated medically' or 'with medication').
American English
- (No common direct adverb form. Typically paraphrased, e.g., 'managed pharmaceutically').
adjective
British English
- The medicinal properties of the plant are well-documented.
- He was in a medicated state after the surgery.
American English
- The medication guide lists all potential side effects.
- She used a medicated shampoo for her scalp condition.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Take this medication twice a day.
- My grandmother takes medication for her heart.
- The new medication has significantly improved her symptoms.
- Always check with your doctor before stopping any medication.
- Due to a potential interaction, the pharmacist advised separating the two medications by several hours.
- Adherence to the prescribed medication regimen is crucial for managing chronic illnesses.
- Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications, increases the risk of adverse drug events.
- The efficacy of the medication was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MEDIC' at the start, which is the core idea. 'Medication' is what a MEDIC prescribes to take ACTION.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEDICATION IS A TOOL / MEDICATION IS A KEY (to health/lock)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'медикация' (not a standard word). Use 'лекарство' or 'медикамент' (formal). 'Лечение' is 'treatment', which is the process, not the substance.
- The phrase 'on medication' should be translated contextually, e.g., 'принимать лекарства/препараты'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'a medication' for an uncountable concept ('He takes a medication for pain' is less common than 'He takes medication').
- Confusing 'medication' (the substance) with 'medication' (the process) without context.
- Misspelling as 'medecation' or 'medacation'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the primary meaning of 'medication'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Medicine' is broader, referring to the science of healing, the profession, and the substance. 'Medication' is more specific, almost always referring to the drug/substance itself, and is often preferred in formal or medical contexts to imply prescription or specific treatment.
It is primarily an uncountable/mass noun (e.g., 'He is on medication'). It becomes countable when referring to different types or specific instances (e.g., 'The patient takes three different medications').
No, not typically. 'Medication' strongly implies a legitimate, therapeutic substance prescribed or recommended for medical treatment. For illegal substances, terms like 'drugs', 'narcotics', or specific names are used.
It is a common idiom meaning a person is regularly taking prescribed drugs, usually for a chronic or serious condition (e.g., 'She is on medication for depression').
Collections
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Health and Wellness
B1 · 49 words · Physical and mental health vocabulary.
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