oral
Meaning of oral: Oral describes anything relating to the mouth, including its anatomy, medications taken by swallowing, and examinations of the mouth and throat.
Definition of oral
Oral means relating to or affecting the mouth. The word describes anatomical structures of the mouth, such as the oral cavity and oral mucosa, as well as clinical findings, examinations, and hygiene practices centered on this region.
In pharmacology, oral most often describes a route of administration in which a medication is taken by mouth and swallowed, allowing it to be absorbed through the digestive tract rather than delivered by injection, through the skin, or by another route. Oral medications come in many forms, including tablets, capsules, and liquids.
Because the mouth also plays a role in speech, chewing, and the first stage of digestion, oral findings and complaints are evaluated by multiple specialties, including dentistry, otolaryngology, and general medicine.
Used in a sentence
The medication was switched from an intravenous formulation to an oral tablet once the patient was tolerating food.
Good to know
Oral administration is distinct from other routes such as intravenous or topical, and the same medication can have a different onset, absorption, and dosing when given by mouth compared with another route.
Word origin
Where “oral” comes from
From Latin os, oris, meaning "mouth."