French word

ordonnance

Pronunciation

IPA/ɔʁdonɑ̃s/

Meaning

  • feminine nounprescription

Example

J'ai montré mon ordonnance à la pharmacie pour acheter les comprimés.

I showed my prescription at the pharmacy to buy the tablets.

Illustration for ordonnance (prescription)

More examples

Le pharmacien a vérifié la validité de l'ordonnance avant de délivrer les comprimés.

The pharmacist checked the prescription's validity before dispensing the tablets.

Core concept

A signed medical instruction sheet links prescribed medicines and doses with the act of obtaining them at a pharmacy.

Common phrases

  • ordonnance du médecin

    doctor's prescription

  • récupérer son ordonnance

    pick up one's prescription

Similar words

prescription: A medical document stating the treatment or medicines needed.
posologie: Instructions on a medicine's dose and how often to take it.

Definition in French

Document remis par un médecin qui précise les médicaments prescrits, la posologie et la signature, destiné à permettre l'obtention de médicaments en pharmacie.

Word origin

The French word developed from Old French ordonnance, related to Latin ordinatio for ordering or arranging, and narrowed from a general order to a medical prescription.

Usage tips

  • At a pharmacy, présenter son ordonnance and montrer son ordonnance are both standard ways to describe handing it over or displaying it.

Other meanings

  • ordinancenoun
  • decreenoun

Related words

  • ordonnerorderverb
  • ordonnéorderlyadjective

Word lists with this word